Aksai Chin
It is a cold desert flatland that does not receive rain or snow.
Mostly uninhabited, its water sources are the Karakash river and brackish lakes.
It is claimed by India as part of its Leh District, Ladakh Union Territory.
The area remains under illegal Chinese occupation partly since 1950s and completely since 1962.
China occupied Aksai Chin claiming that it was part of ancient and medieval Chinese empire.
No Chinese map showed Aksai Chin as its territory before 1920s.
Aksai Chin was historically part of Ladakh, and British India since mid-19th century.
China militarily captured Aksai Chin through 1950s and during 1962 war.
During the time of British rule in India, two borders between India and China were proposed- Johnson’s Line and McDonald Line.
The Johnson’s line (proposed in 1865) shows Aksai Chin in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir (now Ladakh) i.e. under India’s control whereas McDonald Line (proposed in 1893) places it under China’s control.
India considers Johnson Line as a correct, rightful national border with China, while on the other hand, China considers the McDonald Line as the correct border with India.
At present, Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the line separating Indian areas of Ladakh from Aksai Chin.
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