India has responded with fervor to China's recent unveiling of a 2023 "standard map" that asserts territorial claims, including over regions such as Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin.
New Dehli, Tamsil Shahezad Khan: The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, emphasized the country's protest, denouncing the claims as baseless and detrimental to the ongoing boundary discussions. Bagchi asserted that such actions by China serve only to complicate the resolution of the boundary dispute.
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar echoed these sentiments while speaking at the NDTV Decodes G20 Conclave, labeling China's claims as "absurd." He criticized China's historical habit of releasing maps that infringe on other countries' territories and underscored India's resolute stance on safeguarding its own boundaries. Jaishankar further stressed that making unfounded claims cannot alter the ownership of territories.
China's "standard map" for 2023 has sparked concerns, with its depiction of disputed areas causing a stir. The map showcased by the Global Times spotlighted Arunachal Pradesh, designated as South Tibet by China, and Aksai Chin, an area occupied during the 1962 conflict. The map also included Taiwan, a territory that China regards as its own despite the island's sovereign identity, and laid claim to a significant portion of the South China Sea through the nine-dash line.
This move follows China's previous actions in April, when they released names in Chinese, Tibetan, and Pinyin characters for Arunachal Pradesh. At that time, Arindam Bagchi reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will remain so. The unveiling of the 2023 map has escalated tensions and further strained relations between the two countries, prompting India to firmly defend its territorial integrity.
