BEIJING: China has rejected India’s territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh after New Delhi issued what it described as “standard names” for 27 locations in the disputed region, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Beijing does not recognise what he called the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh”, maintaining China’s longstanding position that the area it refers to as Zangnan forms part of Chinese territory.
“Zangnan region is China’s territory,” Guo said while responding to a question about India’s August 7 announcement concerning the names of locations in the region.
The spokesperson rejected India’s move to assign what New Delhi described as standardised names to the 27 locations.
Guo said India’s attempt to replace names historically used by China with its own “standard names” was “illegal, null and void”.
He added that the move would not alter Beijing’s position regarding sovereignty over the territory.
Long-running border dispute
China and India have for decades maintained competing territorial claims along sections of their Himalayan border.
Beijing refers to Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan, or South Tibet, and has repeatedly maintained that the region forms part of Chinese territory.
ALSO READ: Indian Police Fire Tear Gas, Use Batons Against Youth Protesters in Jharkhand
India administers Arunachal Pradesh as a state and rejects China’s sovereignty claim, maintaining that the territory is an integral part of India.
The latest disagreement over geographical names comes amid the wider unresolved boundary dispute between the two Asian neighbours.
China has previously issued Chinese names for locations in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its assertion of sovereignty, moves that India has rejected.
Beijing’s latest response signals that territorial differences remain unresolved despite efforts by both governments in recent years to manage tensions along their disputed frontier.
Guo reiterated that changes introduced by India to the names of locations would not affect China’s territorial position.
Beijing maintains that questions concerning the disputed border should be addressed in accordance with its established territorial and diplomatic positions.
