India Slams China’s Renaming of Arunachal as “Vain and Preposterous”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong condemnation of China’s repeated attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the efforts “vain and preposterous.” The MEA’s firm rejection of these moves underscores India’s long-standing and consistent position that Arunachal Pradesh is, has always been, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of the country. In a recent official statement, the ministry made it clear that simply assigning new names to Indian territory will not change the undeniable reality of India’s sovereignty over the region.

This response comes in light of China’s renewed issuance of a list containing “standardised” names for several locations in Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing refers to the region as “South Tibet,” a claim that India has categorically and consistently denied. According to Indian authorities, this move by China is not only unfounded but also a deliberate tactic aimed at asserting false territorial claims.

Earlier in 2024, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu reacted to China’s renaming exercise via a tweet, dismissing it as another gimmick. Expressing strong opposition, Khandu stated that as a proud citizen of India and a native of Arunachal Pradesh, he unequivocally condemned the naming of places within the state by China. He emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an inseparable part of India, and such maneuvers from China hold no legitimacy or ground.

Further reaffirming the Indian stance, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, also criticized China’s actions. Jaiswal described the renaming attempts as “senseless” and asserted that they do not and will not alter the geographic and sovereign reality of the region. His statement echoes the MEA’s broader sentiment that imaginative naming practices cannot substitute or challenge established international borders and sovereign authority.

This is not the first time that China has issued such lists of renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh, and each time, India has responded with similar rejection and firm opposition. India maintains that such symbolic gestures are entirely ineffective in altering the legal or political status of any part of its territory.

The tension over Arunachal Pradesh has been a long-standing issue between the two countries, with China frequently asserting claims over the region, which India firmly refutes. India considers these repeated renaming attempts as part of China’s broader strategy to assert its claims on Indian territory through soft power and psychological tactics rather than legitimate diplomatic means.

In conclusion, India remains unwavering in its stance that Arunachal Pradesh is an essential and indivisible part of its territory. No unilateral action by China, including the naming or renaming of geographical locations, can change this fact. India has urged China to respect its sovereignty and refrain from actions that may further strain the already tense bilateral relations. The MEA’s strong words and the support from state leaders like Pema Khandu reflect national unity and resolve in defending India’s territorial integrity.