India Denounces China’s ‘Fictitious’ Naming of Arunachal Pradesh Places

In a firm response to recent actions by China, India has categorically dismissed what it termed as ‘mischievous attempts’ by Beijing to assign ‘fictitious names’ to locations within Indian territory. The assertion came from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday, following China’s announcement of new Chinese names for various places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that attempts by China to create false narratives regarding territorial claims will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. ‘These territories were, are, and will always remain an inalienable part of India,’ Jaiswal stated, reinforcing the nation’s longstanding position on the matter.

Moreover, he asserted that such actions by the Chinese government detract from the ongoing efforts to stabilize and normalize relations between the two countries. The MEA encouraged China to refrain from actions that undermine the establishment of a better understanding, stressing that these provocations only serve to inject negativity into a relationship that has seen recent improvements.

Over the past year, India and China have been working towards thawing their historically tense relations, with both nations experiencing a refreshing momentum in diplomatic dialogues. However, the recent reiteration of territorial claims by China is a stark reminder of the underlying tensions that still exist, particularly concerning Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing has long asserted claims over this northeastern state, referring to it as ‘South Tibet’ and designating it as ‘Zangnan’. India, however, has consistently opposed these claims, viewing them as illegitimate.

In conjunction with India’s response, reports emerged indicating that China has established a new county named Cenling in the Xinjiang province, located near the borders of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan. This strategic move appears aimed at bolstering security along the sensitive Wakhan Corridor, an area of significant geopolitical interest. Such developments suggest that while diplomatic relations may be improving, territorial disputes remain a critical and contentious aspect of India-China relations.

Source: scroll.in