‘Ladakh was never part of China’: LAB hits back at Beijing
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has hit back at China’s latest territorial claims with a firm assertion that western Ladakh has never belonged to Beijing, warning that the region’s people remain determined to defend their land and demanding a strong response from New Delhi.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said China’s claims were not supported by recorded history and that Ladakhis had been living with India for the past 75 years. He called on the Union Home Ministry to intervene firmly, while other leaders stressed that the people of Ladakh, particularly those in border villages, had consistently stood with the Indian Army in protecting the frontier.
Dorjay said China was illegally occupying Aksai Chin which was a part and parcel of Ladakh.
He urged the Union Home Ministry to issue a firm response to Beijing, saying “We strongly condemn the Chinese remarks claiming that Western Ladakh has always been part of China. We reject this statement because Ladakh has never been under China”.
The diplomatic friction follows a statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who criticized India’s recent decision to assign standardized names to 28 strategic locations within Ladakh. Beijing claimed that it has never recognized the Union Territory of Ladakh, labeling its establishment as illegal. In response, local leaders have united to denounce these remarks, viewing them as an affront to the region’s identity and its long-standing relationship with India.
Konchok Stanzin, a former councillor for the Chushul region, who also spoke in the press conference, highlighted the role of border residents in national security. He noted that civilians in Ladakh have historically stood alongside the Indian Army to protect the frontier, citing the 1962 conflict as a testament to their loyalty.
Stanzin stressed that the younger generation in border areas remains steadfast in its opposition to Chinese aggression, viewing such territorial claims as entirely unacceptable.
Former Nubra MLA Deldan Namgyal pointed to the deep-rooted spiritual bond between the people of Ladakh and the Dalai Lama, noting that this connection has fostered a clear opposition to Chinese policies. Namgyal explicitly rejected any suggestion that the local population might be aligned with Beijing, characterizing the relationship as one of deep-seated ideological and spiritual disagreement.