China reacts to India's explicit displeasure with its 2023 "standard map". "It's hoped that relevant parties will treat it objectively and not over-interpret it," said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
India strongly objected to the “standard map” released by the Republic of China- which the country quotes as the “country’s normal exercise of sovereignty”. The 2023 ‘standard map’ included Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region and was received with great indignation by Indians.
"The release of the 2023 edition of the standard map of China is the country’s normal exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law,” the Chinese foreign ministry responded. "It's hoped that relevant parties will treat it objectively and not over-interpret it," it added.
India, on Tuesday vehemently protested against China’s forced territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin Region through its ‘standard map’. The map also included Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea as part of China.
The Ministry Of External Affairs retorted that such moves would "complicate the resolution of the boundary question”, and termed the suggested claims baseless.
"We have today lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels with the Chinese side on the so called 2023 'standard map' of China that lays claim to India's territory," said Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson.
The Minister Of External Affairs S Jaishankar also dismissed the ‘map’ as redundant. He further said that “absurd claims” did not equip one with other people’s territories.
"China has even in the past pu out maps which claimed territories which are not China's, which belong to other countries. This is an old habit of theirs," the External Affairs Minister told NDTV.
"It is not something which is new. It started in the 1950s. So just by putting out a map claiming territories, some of which are part of India.. I think this doesn't change (anything). These are very much part of India," he added.