Ladakh was never part of China in recorded history, says LAB ahead of talks with MHA officials

“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,” LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey said while addressing a press conference in Leh on Thursday.

He was reacting to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statement that China had “never recognised” the Union Territory of Ladakh and dismissed India's standardisation of 28 geographical names in the region as “illegal and void”.

Dorjey said Ladakh had never been part of China in recorded history.

He urged the Government of India, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs, to issue a strong response, asserting that India would not concede even an inch of Ladakh, including Aksai Chin, which is under illegal Chinese occupation.

Dorjey said Ladakhis had been living happily with India for the past 75 years and called for the government's firm intervention in response to China's claims.

Konchok Stanzin, former councillor of the Chushul constituency, also condemned the Chinese statement, describing Ladakh as an integral part of India and highlighting the contribution of border residents in safeguarding the country's territorial integrity.

“People living along the border, including the youth and civilians, have stood alongside the Indian Army to protect the territory, whether during the 1962 war or the 2020 face-off with China,” he said.

LAB leaders Thupstan Chhewang and Chering Dorjay.

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He demanded that China withdraw its statement and called on the Government of India to reject the remarks strongly.

Stanzin said the people of Ladakh remained firmly with India.

“We are with India and will be part of India. We have always fought against China,” he said.

Former Nubra MLA Deldan Namgyal also criticised Beijing, citing Ladakh's geographical position, with China to the east of Nubra and Pakistan to its north.

Referring to the 1962 war and the Galwan Valley clash, he said Ladakhis had always stood up to defend their territory against China.

Namgyal described China as the spiritual enemy of Ladakhis because “they illegally expelled our Supreme leader, Dalai Lama from there”.

“We will always remain with India. To save this sacred land of Ladakh, we will always stand with the Indian government,” he said, urging New Delhi to strongly condemn China's remarks at the highest level.

The strong reactions from LAB came hours ahead of sub-committee-level talks between Ladakh leaders and MHA officials in Leh on Thursday on constitutional safeguards and a UT-level elected body for Ladakh.

Climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk was also present at the press conference.