Days after India maps 27 Arunachal locations, China responds
India's move to formally name 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh has drawn a sharp response from China. Beijing has called the decision "illegal, null and
India's move to formally name 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh has drawn a sharp response from China. Beijing has called the decision "illegal, null and void" and again claimed the region as its territory. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the latest move would not change Beijing's position on the disputed region. "Zangnan region is China's territory," Guo said. He also rejected India's use of the name Arunachal Pradesh. Read Full Story He commented days after India formally listed 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh on the official maps of the Survey of India. New Delhi has maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and that China's attempts to rename places in the state do not alter territorial claims. The government said the latest move was aimed at ensuring accurate identification of the locations and improving public awareness. CHINA CALLS INDIA'S MOVE 'ILLEGAL' Responding to a question about India's decision, Guo said Beijing does not recognise what it described as the "so-called" Arunachal Pradesh. "China does not recognise the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India," Guo said.
He also objected to India assigning standard names to locations that China has previously referred to using its own names. "India's move of attempting to replace names long been used by China with its so-called ‘standard names' is illegal, null and void," Guo said. He added that it would not alter Beijing's territorial claim. China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as "Zangnan" and claims the region as part of its territory. New Delhi has consistently rejected the claim and maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. INDIA FORMALLY MAPS 27 LOCATIONS India announced the mapping exercise on Friday. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the 27 locations were formally marked on Survey of India maps after consultation with the Arunachal Pradesh government. "The Government of India, in consultation with the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, has marked a total of twenty-seven (27) locations/geographical features situated in Arunachal Pradesh on the official maps of the Survey of India, along with their standard names," the ministry said. "The objective of formally marking these on the Survey of India's map of Arunachal Pradesh is to facilitate their precise identification and foster greater awareness among the general public," it added.
India has previously described China's renaming attempts as "vain and preposterous". It has also maintained that such actions cannot change the "undeniable" reality that Arunachal Pradesh "was, is, and will" remain an integral part of India. STRATEGIC PASSES, WAR SITES ON INDIA'S LIST Several of the locations included in India's latest mapping exercise have strategic and historical importance. Longju, located close to the Line of Actual Control, is among the locations formally identified. It was one of the early flashpoints in India-China border tensions after Chinese forces entered the area in 1959. Maja village in Upper Subansiri district has also been included. The list features several high-altitude passes. They include Dzo La, Riza La and Pukur La. Thag La has also been marked on the official map. The area was the site of one of the opening battles of the 1962 India-China war. Jairampur in Changlang district is another location on the list. The town is an important logistics point for movement towards eastern Arunachal Pradesh and the Myanmar frontier. Other locations include Sambho Sarovar, Bara Kundun, Chhota Kundun, Dhan Bari, Pritnagar, Teritnagar, Ramnagar and Jaswant Garh.
The BriefWire