ISLAMABAD: Monitoring Desk – China and India, two historical rivals in the region, are in a row again on two latest developments in their already continued disputes at both sides of Indian North, in the West in Laddakh, Kashmir and in the East in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. One side is the matter of land while on the other side it is about water.
Chinese authorities announced the formation of two new counties in the Hotan last week including parts of Laddakh within its boundaries. Moreover, China’s plan to build a mega dam on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet has raised concerns in New Delhi.
Beijing had incidentally made the announcement days after special representatives from the two nations resumed boundary talks after nearly five years.
According to an update shared by the Xinhua news agency, He’an County and Hekang County was established after approval from the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council. The county seat of He’an is Hongliu Township, while the county seat of Hekang is Xeyidula Township.
“We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
He also contended that the creation of new counties would not have any bearing on India’s position or lend “legitimacy to China’s illegal and forcible occupation”.
The newly established He’an region however includes a large swathe of the Aksai Chin region that India accuses China of illegally occupying. Interestingly India itself is illegally occupying the whole valley of Kashmir and Laddakh territory. The region is disputed between India and Pakistan.
Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing last month for border-related talks. The interaction came weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and approved the October 21 agreement.
“The Chinese military is ready to make concerted efforts with the Indian side to faithfully implement the important consensus of the two leaders, conduct more exchanges and interactions, and promote China-India mil-to-mil relationship, in a bid to jointly safeguard lasting peace and tranquility in the border areas,” said Chinese Defence Spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang after the interaction in late December.
The two countries reportedly held a comprehensive dialogue on the implementation of the agreement and restoration of the relations which were frozen since the standoff began in April 2020.
India has raised concerns after China announced plans to construct a mega dam on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet.
India has expressed concerns over China’s plan to build a mega dam on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, emphasizing the need for transparency and consultation with downstream states. The project, estimated at USD 137 billion, raises ecological worries for Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The Ministry of External Affairs Beijing to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by its activities. New Delhi has also indicated plans to monitor the situation had ‘take necessary measures’ to protect its interests.
“As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
There have been apprehensions that the dam will have adversely impact the ecological balance of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The Brahmaputra passes through these two states.
“As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
There have been apprehensions that the dam will have adversely impact the ecological balance of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The Brahmaputra passes through these two states.
