India Gives Strong Reply To China After It Attempts To Rename 11 Places In Arunachal Pradesh

China had plans to rename 11 places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims to be South Tibet. This time China released a third set of names in Chinese, Tibetan, and pinyin characters for Arunachal Pradesh. The neighboring country of India is trying to hold its claim over the Indian state. India rejected such an attempt by saying “Reject this outright”.

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs released the standardised names of 11 places for Arunachal Pradesh

In accordance with regulations on geographical names issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet. China calls the state as “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.

The ministry also provided precise coordinates. The coordinates included two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks, and two rivers. They listed the category of places’ names and their subordinate administrative districts.

According to The Global Times, a part of the ruling Communist Party’s mouthpiece People’s Daily group of publications in China, the Chinese authorities are calling this action ‘standardised geographical names’.

This is the third batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh issued by China’s civil affairs ministry

In 2017, the first batch of the standardised names of six places in Arunachal was released, and the second batch of 15 places was issued in 2021.

Days after Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama left Arunachal Pradesh after a high-profile nine-day visit in 2017, China carried out the first batch of name changes of six places.

Dalai Lama had fled from Tibet through Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. After China took military control of the Himalayan region in 1950, he sought refuge in India in 1959.

The second batch in 2021 happened ahead of a new border security law that was to come into effect in January 2021.

Previously, India dismissed the Chinese move of renaming the places in Arunachal Pradesh, stating that the state has “always been” and will “always be” an integral part of India. Assigning “invented” names will not change this fact.

In response to media queries regarding the renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh by China, The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson released a statement

The MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said,

“We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt. We reject this outright. Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality.”

Our response to media queries regarding the renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh by China:https://t.co/JcMQoaTzK6 pic.twitter.com/CKBzK36H1K

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 4, 2023

Last December, India, and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector. It was a face-off that came amid a months-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh. China was accused by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of trying to “unilaterally” change the status quo along the LAC.

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