'Senseless Attempts': MEA Slams China Bid to 'Rename' Places in Arunachal Pradesh

The MEA slammed China for what it termed as "standardised" geographical names given to 30 places inside Arunachal Pradesh.

MEA slammed China for 'renaming' bid inside Arunachal Pradesh

The Ministry of External Affairs slammed China on Tuesday for "renaming" over 30 more places inside Arunachal Pradesh dubbing it as "senseless attempts". The ministry released the statement after Beijing released a fourth list of 30 new names for various locations inside Arunachal Pradesh, continuing its recent efforts to assert its claim over the Indian state.  

"China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh," said the MEA in its statement on Tuesday. 

"We firmly reject such attempts," it said, adding: "Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India."

Our response to media queries on renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh by China:https://t.co/jqx6NCdQ1c pic.twitter.com/XPpysWlcQk

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 2, 2024

The Chinese Ministry for Civil Affairs released the latest list of standardised geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese term for Arunachal Pradesh, as per a report by the state-run Global Times on Sunday. 

The ministry published 30 additional names for the region on its website, with implementation set to commence from May 1. 

The move comes as a part of China's assertion that the North Eastern state is a part of south Tibet. 

Beijing lodged its diplomatic protest in March this year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating its claim over the area by saying India's moves will "only complicate" the unresolved boundary question.

The United State has, however, reaffirmed its recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as an Indian state. 

In a statement on March 9, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: "The US recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory, and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control."