India has issued a stern rebuke to China over its latest attempt to rename several places in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that such actions will not alter the reality of the region's status as an integral part of India.
The move comes as part of a longstanding source of tension between the two countries, with India firmly asserting its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned China's actions in a statement issued on April 2, calling them "senseless attempts" to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. The MEA emphasized that assigning invented names to locations in the region will not change the ground reality and reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs recently released the fourth list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of south Tibet. The list included 30 additional names for the region, sparking criticism and condemnation from Indian officials.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to China's move by questioning the logic behind it, asking, "If I change the name of your house, will it become mine?" He reaffirmed India's position that Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state and will remain so in the future.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned China's renaming bid, stating that such actions would not change the historical facts or ground reality. He emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, and its people are supremely patriotic Indians.
The renaming issue has been a longstanding source of tension between India and China, with both countries asserting their claims over the region. India considers Arunachal Pradesh as one of its northeastern states, while China claims it as part of south Tibet.
The latest incident has drawn criticism from opposition parties in India as well. Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party, condemned China's actions and urged the BJP-led government to take a firm stance against such provocations. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to use diplomatic influence to stop China's "absurdity" of renaming Indian territories.
Amid escalating tensions, India has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The government has emphasized that it will continue to oppose any attempts to alter the status quo in Arunachal Pradesh and will work diplomatically to address the issue with China.
As both countries go through their tense relationship, the issue of territorial disputes remains an important challenge specifically when Arunachal Assembly elections are round the corner with the national Elections in India. India's firm stance on Arunachal Pradesh remembers its commitment to defending its borders and asserting its sovereignty in the face of external pressures.
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