China's recent actions on India's northern frontier have gone beyond mere symbolism. From altering maps to weaponising minerals, the intent is clear: to recast geopolitical narratives in Beijing's favour while undermining India's sovereignty. The depiction of Jammu & Kashmir as "Occupied Kashmir" and Arunachal Pradesh as "South Tibet" on official Chinese maps is a strategic move, not a cartographic slip. It is the sign of ever-tougher stance, as geography is turned into the instrument of policy — or, rather, the instrument of influence.

Take for instance the re-designation of Ladakh as "Chinese territory" and the integration of Aksai Chin into Xinjiang's administrative structure. These are bureaucratic acts with military and diplomatic weight. When a state sets on the institutionalisation of its claims, it is not just doing the same in preparation of international negotiations, but long-term strategic........

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