China has again attempted to assert control over some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and has unilaterally renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, claiming them as South Tibet. India says the northeastern states have been a part of India and will always remain so.
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China asserts control over some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and renames 11 places, claiming them as South Tibet. The first attempt was made in April 2017, the second in December 2021, and the third in April 2024. China’s civil affairs ministry said in a short statement issued on Monday that, with relevant regulations of the state council (China’s cabinet) and relevant departments, they have standardised some geographical names in South Tibet.
The places that were renamed on Sunday are two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks, two rivers, and a list of categories of place names and their subordinate administrative districts. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said assigning invented names to a place does not alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India and will continue to remain an integral part of India in the future also.
Background of Indo-China war
Tracing back, to the issue started after the Sino-Indian War in 1962. The conflict is due to the Aksai Chin region along both countries’ borders, which remains the most disputed area to date. But the US does not consider it a disputed area; rather, it recognises the McMahon line as the international border between the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and China. The US also considers it an integral part of India.
However, this is not the first attempt by China to claim parts of the Indian border, and it has kind of become a ritual for Beijing. In December 2021, China was accused of its increasingly expansionist and aggressive policies towards India.
Earlier in 2021, China’s Ministry assigned Mandarin-language names to 15 geographic features, which included eight residential settlements, four mountain peaks, two rivers, one mountain pass, and the administrative areas where each of them was located. These provocative steps by China led to a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh along the LAC (Line of Actual Control), which was called the biggest clash in the Eastern region in six years.
India’s Reaction to the Renaming of Places
India was dissatisfied with the move made by Beijing, unilaterally renaming the places on the Zangnan border in Chinese characters. Sino-Chinese relations have always been unpredictable, which has time and again caused problems for both sides. India has always dismissed this sort of action, which China considers a legitimate move. The issue has taken place twice earlier in the years 2017 and 2021.
The External Affairs Minister, Arindam Bagchi, stated that it was not the first time that China has renamed the places on the border. Assigning invented names will not help them gain control over Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh was and will always be an integral part of India. In addition to that, both sides have put the troops in position with heavy armament along the Line of Actual Control.
