Source: NIE
Context: India has lodged a protest with China over the establishment of two new counties, He’an and Hekang, in the Hotan Prefecture, which encompasses parts of the disputed Aksai Chin region.
- This area is administered by China but claimed by India as part of Ladakh.
About Hotan Prefecture:
- What it is: Hotan Prefecture is an administrative division in southwestern Xinjiang, China, and encompasses disputed territories like Aksai Chin.
- Location: Located in the Tarim Basin, it borders Tibet to the south, and Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan to the west. The region spans vast deserts and mountainous terrains.
- History:
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- Aksai Chin became a contentious area during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
- Administered by China since 1962, Hotan was designated as a prefecture in 1971.
- Geographical Features:
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- Taklamakan Desert: A vast desert covering the northern part of the prefecture.
- Kunlun Mountains: Form the southern border, offering a natural divide from Tibet.
- Oases: Hotan city and other settlements thrive on oases, enabling agriculture and trade.
- Demographics: Predominantly Muslim Uyghurs inhabit the prefecture, living in oases between the Taklamakan Desert and Kunlun Mountains.
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