External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rebutted China's claim over Indian territory as shown in a map unveiled by the country and said the Narendra Modi-led government is clear about the territory of the nation.
"China has put out maps with territories (that are) not theirs. (It is an) old habit. Just by putting out maps with parts of India… this doesn't change anything. Our government is very clear about our territory. Making absurd claims does not make other people's territories yours," he told NDTV.
India on Tuesday lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels with Beijing over the issue of the 2023 standard map of China that lays claim to India’s territory.
In response to media queries, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "India rejects these claims as they have no basis."
"Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question," the MEA spokesperson said.
India's response came after China on Monday officially released the 2023 edition of its “standard map” where Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan, and the disputed South China Sea were all included within the Chinese territory.
The development came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi-Jinping called for a "resolution" of the long-standing border issues between the two nations on the sidelines of the 15th edition of the BRICS Summit in South Africa.
The two leaders also agreed to intensify efforts at expeditious "disengagement and de-escalation" to restore normal relationships between the two countries.
