India has given official names to 28 geographical locations in Ladakh, drawing strong objections from China. The names were released on October 2 and included in maps published by the Survey of India, according to reports.
The list was prepared after consultations with the Ladakh administration and local residents. It covers 10 mountain peaks, two mountain passes, seven landforms, three mountains, two water bodies, two glaciers, one valley and one river. The individual names should be checked against the official Survey of India notification before publication.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning objected to the move, saying Beijing does not recognise what it calls the “so-called Union Territory of Ladakh”. She described India’s action as “illegal and invalid”.
India rejected the objection. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Ladakh is an “integral and inalienable part of India”. The latest dispute comes amid a wider disagreement over geographical names. China has announced its own names for locations in Arunachal Pradesh several times, including in 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
