Description
The move is seen as part of China's efforts to assert its claim to the state. (File) China has released a series of new names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its effort to assert its claim to the state. This is the third time China has "renamed" places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it "Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet." China's Ministry of Civil Affairs released a set of names in Chinese, Tibetan and pinyin characters yesterday in what it claims to be in line with regulations on geographical names issued by the State Council, China's cabinet.
The list of names published by China includes five mountain peaks, two land areas, two residential areas and two rivers.
The first two such lists were published in 2018 and 2021. China published a list of six names in 2017, while in 2021 it "renamed" 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
New Delhi firmly rejected China's claims on both occasions, saying the state "has always been" and "always will be" an integral part of India.
"This is not the first time that China has attempted to rename places in the state of Arunachal Pradesh." Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in December 2021.
"Arunachal Pradesh has always been and always will be an integral part of India. Giving invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not change that fact," he said.
According to the Global Times, which is part of the People's Daily publishing group, mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, the Chinese authorities call the measure "standard geographic names."
China announced the first set of names in 2017 days after the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. China strongly criticized the visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet via Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and sought refuge in India in 1959 after China took military control of the Himalayan region in 1950.
Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Current Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of the state last December in a confrontation that came amid a month-long border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh then accused China of trying to "unilaterally" change the status quo across LAC.
