India: Beijing has officially acknowledged “Zangnan” as the designated name for the Arunachal Pradesh region. The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, responsible for establishing administrative divisions, has released a roster of what it terms “standardized” geographical designations within the area.
In short
- China publishes the fourth list of 30 “standardized” names for Arunachal locations.
- Residential areas, rivers, and mountains are included in the Chinese list.
- The Center says Arunachal is an essential part of India and refutes China’s claims.
In a further attempt to assert its territorial claim on Arunachal Pradesh, China has issued a fourth list containing 30 new names for different locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in India’s northeastern state. The Ministry of External Affairs has refuted China’s assertions, reaffirming that Arunachal Pradesh has been, is, and will remain an integral part of India.
China’s recent effort to rename locations within Indian territory is not the first instance of such actions. Monday’s endeavor by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, responsible for establishing and naming administrative divisions, represents the latest attempt to assert claims over areas in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to a report from the state-run Global Times on Sunday, China has issued a list of what it terms as ‘standardized’ geographical names in Arunachal Pradesh, recognized by Beijing as Zangnan. The list comprises 30 places that have been renamed by Beijing, encompassing 12 mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, 11 residential areas, and a parcel of land. In addition to the names, the Chinese ministry has also provided detailed latitude and longitude coordinates along with a high-resolution map of the regions.
The first list of “standardized” names for six Arunachal Pradesh locations was revealed in Beijing in 2017. This was followed by a second list including names for 15 places in 2021, and another list for 11 additional places released in 2023.
China’s attempts to make territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh have, in the meantime, been firmly rejected by India, which has emphasized that the state is an integral and vital component of the nation and that giving it ‘created’ titles does not alter this fact.
“If I change the name of your house today, will it become mine?” asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in response to the most recent attempt. Arunachal Pradesh in India was, is, and will always be a state. The changing of names has no effect.
“Our military is positioned at the Line of Actual Control…,” Jaishankar was cited as saying by news agency ANI.
During a recent press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted that Arunachal Pradesh has been, is, and will always be an integral and inseparable part of India.
“Our stance on Arunachal Pradesh has been unequivocally articulated repeatedly. Recently, we reiterated our position through a statement. Regardless of how often China reiterates its unfounded assertions, it will not alter our position. Arunachal Pradesh has been, is, and will always be an integral and inseparable part of India,” Jaiswal emphasized.
Days after China lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, during which he inaugurated the Sela Tunnel aimed at improving all-weather connectivity to strategically significant areas such as Tawang and facilitating troop movement along the frontier region, the recent list was issued by China.
Beijing has also conveyed its dissatisfaction regarding a statement by the United States acknowledging Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory.
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The Chinese Foreign and Defence ministries condemned the US for its position, emphasizing that the boundary dispute between China and India is a bilateral matter and does not concern Washington.