In a firm and unequivocal response, India has dismissed China’s latest attempt to rename several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, labelling it a meaningless and baseless move to assert territorial claims. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denounced the act as a continuation of Beijing’s fabricated narrative over a region that New Delhi maintains has always been—and will remain—an integral part of India.
India reaffirms sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh
The MEA’s response came after Beijing released its fourth list of Chinese names for places in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as the southern part of Tibet. In a strongly worded statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “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.”
India has long rejected China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, and officials reiterated that such symbolic gestures—like renaming towns, villages, or landmarks—carry no legitimacy. “Assigning invented names will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the ministry added.
China’s latest list reportedly includes Chinese names for several mountains, rivers, and residential areas in the northeastern Indian state, which it refers to as “Zangnan.” However, India has stood its ground firmly, with the MEA underscoring that such repeated actions will not change historical facts or ground realities.
China’s symbolic acts amid infrastructure boost in Arunachal
This episode marks another flashpoint in the long-standing border tensions between the two neighbours. Meanwhile, India has continued to bolster infrastructure in the strategically sensitive state, which borders Tibet. Significant developments include the upgrade and expansion of three key airports—Pasighat Airport, Tezu Airport, and the newly operational Donyi Polo Airport in Itanagar. These airports not only enhance regional connectivity but also play a critical role in India’s defence preparedness and economic development of the frontier region.
Beijing’s move also comes months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh to inaugurate various infrastructure projects, drawing sharp criticism from China at the time. Yet, India has remained consistent in asserting its administrative and territorial rights over the state, which has regularly participated in democratic processes like state and general elections, further establishing its integration with the Indian Union.
While tensions over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain unresolved, New Delhi’s rejection of China’s renaming stunt signals that symbolic provocations will continue to meet with strong diplomatic rebuttal.
