The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Arunachal Pradesh): India has unequivocally rejected China’s latest act of renaming several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, labeling these efforts as “senseless” and devoid of any impact on the state’s status as an essential part of India. This strong stance was articulated in response to Beijing’s announcement of assigning Chinese names to 30 more locales within Arunachal Pradesh, a region China claims under its territorial ambit referring to it as southern Tibet.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that such attempts at renaming do not alter the factual status of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral and inalienable component of India. This reaction follows the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs’ dissemination of what it termed the fourth list of standardized geographical names for areas it calls Zangnan, indicating an ongoing effort by Beijing to assert claims over the region through nominal designations.
India’s consistent dismissal of these actions reflects a broader diplomatic and territorial dispute between the two nations, particularly highlighted by the eastern Ladakh border conflict initiated in May 2020. Despite various levels of engagement including diplomatic and military dialogues that led to partial disengagement in specific areas, tensions persist, especially in certain friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
The firm repudiation by India of China’s naming activities underscores a steadfast commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly regarding Arunachal Pradesh. This principled stance is part of India’s broader approach to its relations with China, wherein peace and tranquility along the LAC are deemed crucial for the normalization of bilateral ties.
