India on Wednesday issued a strong rebuttal to China’s latest attempt to rename several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move “preposterous” and reaffirming that the northeastern state is an undeniable and inalienable part of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued the statement in response to China’s release of a new list of Chinese names for places within Arunachal Pradesh — a region that Beijing refers to as part of “South Tibet”, a claim that India has repeatedly and unequivocally rejected.
“We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, while addressing media queries.
“Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” Jaiswal asserted.
Background of the Dispute
This is not the first time China has attempted to rename geographical areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing has previously published similar lists under the guise of standardizing place names, an act widely seen by India and the global community as politically motivated and historically baseless.
China’s move comes amid continuing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and follows a series of infrastructural and strategic developments undertaken by both sides in the border areas. However, India maintains that its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is absolute and not subject to external dispute.
Diplomatic Reactions
India’s firm response is in line with its consistent diplomatic messaging over the years. Senior government officials and political leaders across party lines have long affirmed that no external party has any locus standi to rename Indian territory, and that such tactics are an affront to India’s territorial integrity.
In recent months, India has also increased infrastructure development and civilian outreach in the border state, sending a clear message that Arunachal Pradesh is not only integral to the Indian Union geographically but also emotionally and politically.
Global Perspective
While China’s assertions are part of its broader regional strategy, they have gained no international recognition, with most nations and global bodies acknowledging India’s administrative control and sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh.
As geopolitical tensions simmer in the region, experts suggest that India’s unwavering stance on Arunachal Pradesh is a signal of its strategic clarity and commitment to safeguarding national interests against expansionist narratives.
