UN Map Depicts Arunachal, Aksai Chin Outside India’s Official Boundaries

New Delhi, Sep 9: A new United Nations world map has drawn attention in India by depicting Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as separate regions between India and China, even as New Delhi maintains that both are integral parts of Indian territory.

The map was first published on July 1 during discussions on a United Nations General Assembly resolution titled “Correct the Map”, which was adopted last week. The African Union-backed resolution, championed by Togo on behalf of the African Group, seeks more accurate and equitable cartographic representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa.

According to the map, Arunachal Pradesh is shown without a border with Nagaland and projected as a separate state bordering Assam and China. Aksai Chin is similarly depicted as a separate region, with its western side bordering India and eastern side bordering China.

The United Nations has not explained the rationale behind the depiction.

The map also marks the Line of Control dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan with a dotted line. In its footnotes, the UN describes it as approximately representing the LoC agreed upon by India and Pakistan, while noting that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not been agreed upon by the parties.

India backed the “Correct the Map” resolution, but the External Affairs Ministry clarified that its vote was based on the principle of promoting equal-area cartographic representation and did not amount to endorsement of any particular map or depiction of national boundaries.

The Ministry stressed that India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be shown according to India’s official map and said any inaccurate or misleading depiction was unacceptable.

New Delhi is yet to specifically comment on the map’s depiction of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin. (Agencies)