Question : CHINA MAP DISTORTING INDIAN STATES

(a) whether Chinese on-line map services and the companies working in China have shown Indian States as parts of Chinese Territories in their maps;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the Indian States shown as Chinese Territories;

(c) whether the Government is aware that External Affairs Ministry of China has shown Gilgit-Baltishtan as part of north Pakistan and used the term `India Occupied Kashmir` for Jammu and Kashmir, but cleverly avoided any reference to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has taken up the above issues with the Chinese Government; and

(f) if so, the details and the outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)

(a) & (b) China disputes the international boundary between India and China in the Eastern Sector and claims approximately 90,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian territory under the occupation of China in Jammu & Kashmir is approximately 38,000 sq. kms. In addition, under the so- called China-Pakistan “Boundary Agreement” signed between China and Pakistan on 2 March 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. The online map service providers use the official map of a particular country for their services in that country.

(c) to (f) China regards the State of Jammu and Kashmir as a dispute that should be settled properly through dialogue between India and Pakistan. Government has taken up the matter with the Chinese side and has conveyed Government’s clear and consistent position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.