India, April 12 -- India on Sunday rejected China's efforts to assign "fictitious names" to territory claimed by New Delhi in the Aksai Chin region, and said such attempts to manufacture "baseless narratives" will not alter the reality and can even hit efforts to normalise bilateral relations.

A statement by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissing China's "mischievous attempts" came against the backdrop of reports that Beijing has established a third new county in the Aksai Chin region, claimed by the Indian side. New Delhi has repeatedly countered moves by Beijing to assign new names to Indian territories or those claimed by the Indian side.

"India categorically rejects any mischievous attempts by the Chinese ...