NEW DELHI — India on Wednesday firmly rejected China’s recent move to rename several locations in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating that the Himalayan territory is an integral and undisputed part of India.
The announcement follows China’s continued practice of assigning Chinese names to places in Arunachal Pradesh, a region India administers but China claims as part of its territory, referring to it as “South Tibet.” This longstanding dispute remains a major source of tension between the two Asian neighbors.
The Arunachal Pradesh border has been a flashpoint for diplomatic and military confrontations, notably escalating after a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides and sharply worsened bilateral relations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned China’s latest renaming as a “unilateral attempt to undermine India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The ministry emphasized that such actions are “null and void and have no legal basis,” and stressed India’s commitment to protecting its borders.
China’s renaming efforts are seen as part of a broader strategy to assert territorial claims in contested border areas across the Himalayas. Beijing has renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh multiple times over recent years, heightening diplomatic strains and complicating ongoing border negotiations.
Despite several rounds of talks aimed at resolving the boundary dispute, including agreements to maintain peace and avoid escalation, incidents continue to flare along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed frontier between the two countries.
The Indian government has increased infrastructure development and military deployments in Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen its hold on the strategically sensitive region. These measures include building new roads, bridges, and airbases to improve connectivity and rapid troop movement.
Analysts note that China’s persistent renaming campaign is symbolic but provocative, intended to reinforce its claims while challenging India’s sovereignty. New Delhi, in turn, continues to assert its administrative control over Arunachal Pradesh and engages diplomatically with international partners to bolster support against China’s territorial assertions.
The Arunachal Pradesh dispute remains one of the most delicate issues in India-China relations, with potential implications for regional security and stability in South Asia. Both countries have expressed a desire to maintain dialogue, but progress has been slow amid ongoing mistrust and competing strategic interests.