ISLAMABAD: China has firmly opposed a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a disputed area on the China-India border for the inauguration of a tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday, the recent move by India would complicate the boundary question further.
The strong response from China came soon after the visit of Indian PM Modi to inaugurate the tunnel at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal last Saturday to provide all-weather connectivity to strategically located Tawang. One of the tunnel’s major purposes also included ensuring better movement of troops along the border regions adjacent to China.
The spokesperson Wang Wenbin during his regular briefing further said that the Zangnan area was Chinese territory and China has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India as China always opposed it
Wang Wenbin said the major question over the China-India boundary has yet to be solved whereas India has no right to arbitrarily develop the area of Zangnan in China adding that the recent move by the government of India would do nothing but complicate the issue further.
China Rejects Indian Move at Arunachal Pradesh
Responding to a question the spokesperson said that China was strongly dissatisfied with the move and firmly opposed to the visit of Indian PM to the eastern section of the China-India boundary. “We have made solemn representations to India”, he said.
According to Chinese media, Arunachal Pradesh was established largely in three areas Monyul, Loyul and Lower Tsayul which are currently under the occupation of India.
These three areas, located between the ‘McMahon Line’ and the traditional customary boundary between China and India, have always been Chinese territory, the reports maintained.
As per the reports, not a single government from China has ever recognized the McMahon Line. In February 1987, the Indian government declared the founding of the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’.
It is worth mentioning here that the Sela Tunnel, built at a cost of about 825 crore Indian Rupees would connect Assam’s Tezpur to West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh. It has been billed as the longest bi-lane road tunnel at such an elevated level.
