'Integral And Inalienable Part Of India': MEA After China Reiterates Claim Over Arunachal Pradesh

Ministry of External Affairs responded to China's territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh saying that the state "was, is and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India."

Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, India.

Source : X/@MEAIndia

India's Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday responded to the remarks made by the Spokesperson of the Chinese Defence Ministry, claiming the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh as its own. The Chinese military, while reiterating its claim over Arunachal, stated that the area was an "inherent part of China's territory." Responding to these "absurd" claims, India issued a statement in which it stressed that "Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Its people will continue to benefit from the development programmes and infrastructure projects."

The statement further stated that repeating baseless arguments in this regard does not lend such claims any validity.

India had recently rejected Beijing's objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh on March 9 where he inaugurated the Sela Tunnel, the world's longest twin-lane tunnel. According to a report posted on the Chinese Defence Ministry's website, Zhang's remarks were in response to India's military readiness through the Sela Tunnel.

Sela Tunnel is sitauted at a height of 13,000 feet and was built by Border Road Organisation at a cost of Rs 825 crore.

It is significant tunnel as it will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang bordering China, enabling faster deployment of weapons, soldiers, and equipment near the Line of Actual Control, according to Indian Military officials.

What China Claims

After PM Modi's visit, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, the Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman claimed that the southern part of Xizang (the Chinese name for Tibet) is an inherent part of China's territory, and Beijing never acknowledges and firmly opposes the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India." 

China has time and again asserted that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to it, calling it South Tibet. It has also been routinely objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to the state. Beijing has also named the area as 'Zangnan'.

However, India has maintained that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to it, rejecting China's territorial claims. India has also dismissed Beijing's move to assign names to the area, stating that it will not alter the reality.

As per China's report, Colonel Zhang stated that India's actions contradict the efforts made by both countries to ease border situations. While indirectly referring to PM Modi's recent visit, he stated that these actions are not conducive to maintaining peace in the border areas.

Furthermore, he also urged India to stop actions that could complicate the border issue and rather maintain peace and stability in the border regions.

The report also stated that Chinese military remains on high alert in order to defend its national soverignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Zhang also mentioned in the report that the current border situation is generally stable, amid effective diplomatic and communication between India and China on border issues of common concern.