China says Arunachal Pradesh (Zangnan) is our territory not Indian
Beijing: China on Wednesday (April 05) claimed that the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is its territory.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing that Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh) is part of China’s territory.
The statement by China came a day after India rejected the Chinese government’s move to rename 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
Mao Ning said: “According to the relevant provisions of the Administration of Geographical Names of the State Council, the competent authorities of the Chinese government have standardized the names of some parts of Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh).”
He added that it is within China’s sovereign rights.
On Tuesday (April 04), the Indian government rejected the new names given by China for at least 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
“We categorically reject it,” said Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“Arunachal Pradesh is, is and will always be an integral part of India,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
He added: “Attempts to assign invented names will not change this fact.”
On the other hand, the United States (US) has said it “strongly opposes” China’s attempts to stake its claim on Arunachal Pradesh.
“The United States …strongly opposes any unilateral attempt to advance territorial claims by renaming local areas (in Arunachal Pradesh),” White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said.
It may be noted that China on Sunday (April 02) released the third batch of Standard Geographical Names of 11 regions of Arunachal Pradesh in its latest attempt to assert its claim over the northeastern state.
These names are issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, in compliance with the Laws of the State Council on Geographical Names.
China calls Arunachal Pradesh “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.
The ministry has listed the official names of two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks, and two rivers along with their exact coordinates and their respective administrative districts.
The first batch of standard names for six places was released by China in 2017, followed by a second batch of 15 places in 2021.
