India has once again asserted its unwavering stance on Arunachal Pradesh, firmly reminding China that the northeastern state is an “integral and inalienable” part of its territory. This strong message comes in response to Beijing’s persistent attempts to rename places within Arunachal Pradesh, a move New Delhi has consistently rejected as “vain and preposterous.”
In an official statement released today, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed the latest instance of China assigning Chinese names to locations in the Indian state. The MEA spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, stated unequivocally, “We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically.”
The spokesperson further emphasized the futility of China’s actions, asserting that “Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”
China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as “Zangnan” or “South Tibet,” has been a long-standing point of contention in the bilateral relationship. Beijing routinely objects to visits by Indian leaders to the state and has previously released lists of “standardized” names for locations within the territory. India has consistently dismissed these claims, firmly maintaining its sovereignty over the region, which has been an Indian state since 1987.
This latest reiteration of India’s position underscores the government’s firm resolve in the face of China’s continued attempts to assert its territorial claims. New Delhi has consistently maintained that the historical and legal basis for Arunachal Pradesh being an Indian territory is robust and unshakeable.
The repeated rejection of China’s attempts to rename areas within Arunachal Pradesh highlights the deep-seated differences in their perception of the border. While both nations have engaged in diplomatic talks to resolve the boundary issue, a mutually acceptable solution has remained elusive.
India’s firm and clear articulation of the “undeniable reality” of Arunachal Pradesh serves as a strong diplomatic message to China, reiterating its consistent and principled position on the matter. This latest statement is expected to further fuel the ongoing dialogue and discussions between the two neighbors regarding the complex border dispute.