India slams China over renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: India has issued a stern rebuke to China’s continued attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. In response to media queries, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal emphasised India’s firm rejection of China’s actions, stating, “Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.”

The Ministry of External Affairs condemned China’s move as “senseless,” asserting that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral part of India. Despite China’s persistent efforts to rename places in the region, India remains steadfast in its stance. “China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. We firmly reject such attempts.”

In a move that further exacerbates tensions between India and China, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs has released a fourth list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh. This list includes 30 new names for various places in the Indian state, reaffirming China’s claims over the region.

Despite India’s steadfast rejection of China’s attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing continues to assert its sovereignty over the northeastern state. India maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and dismisses China’s renaming efforts as baseless and ineffective.

China’s recent actions come amidst heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs’ decision to release a fourth list of standardized geographical names follows a series of assertive moves by Beijing to reinforce its claims over Arunachal Pradesh.

This renaming spree is not new. China previously released three lists of standardized names for places in Arunachal Pradesh, with the first list dating back to 2017. Despite India’s consistent rejection and dismissal of China’s claims, Beijing remains resolute in its efforts to assert control over the disputed region.

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has condemned China’s repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh as “ludicrous.” Jaishankar emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is a natural part of India and that changing names will not alter this reality.

The latest move by China underscores the ongoing territorial disputes between the two Asian giants. The dispute over Arunachal Pradesh is just one aspect of the broader tensions between India and China, which include border disputes, military standoffs, and diplomatic confrontations.

As both countries continue to assert their respective claims, the situation in the region remains tense. Especially with China’s latest renaming efforts, the prospects for de-escalation appear dim, further complicating an already contentious relationship between the two Asian powers.