In a move likely to exacerbate tensions between China and India, Beijing has announced the release of a fourth list comprising 30 new names for various places in Arunachal Pradesh. This development underscores China’s persistent efforts to reinforce its claim over the Indian state, despite staunch opposition from New Delhi.
India has consistently rejected China’s practice of renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating that the region remains an integral part of the country. Indian officials have dismissed the renaming efforts as futile, emphasizing that such actions do not alter the ground reality.
According to a report by the state-run Global Times, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs unveiled the latest list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese designation for Arunachal Pradesh, a region China asserts as part of south Tibet.
The implementation of these new names, slated to commence from May 1, is governed by stringent regulations outlined in Article 13. This article specifies that any place names in foreign languages deemed detrimental to China’s territorial claims and sovereignty rights require authorization for direct quotation or translation.
China’s Civil Affairs Ministry previously released standardized names for various locations in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017, 2021, and 2023, reflecting a continued effort to assert control over the disputed territory.
The recent escalation in tensions began with Beijing lodging a diplomatic protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. During his visit, Modi inaugurated the strategically significant Sela Tunnel, aimed at enhancing all-weather connectivity to the region.
China’s Foreign and Defense Ministries have issued statements emphasizing China’s territorial claims over the area. Beijing also expressed discontent over a US statement recognizing Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory. The Chinese government criticized the statement, insisting that the boundary issue between China and India should be resolved bilaterally.
However, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar dismissed China’s assertions as “ludicrous,” reaffirming Arunachal Pradesh’s status as an integral part of India. “This is not a new issue. I mean, China has laid claim, it has expanded its claim. The claims are ludicrous to begin with and remain ludicrous today,” he said in response to a question on the Arunachal issue after delivering a lecture at the prestigious Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS).
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