India is preparing to rename over 30 places in Tibet to counter China’s recent renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh. This strategic nomenclature offensive will be announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the Modi 3.0 administration.
India’s decision to rename places in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region comes in response to China’s repeated attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Zangnan or “southern Tibet.” New Delhi views these actions as part of Beijing’s efforts to bolster its territorial claims over the northeastern Indian state.
According to Indian military sources, a complete list of the places to be renamed will be released shortly after the new Government takes office. This move continues Modi’s strongman image, a key factor in his recent electoral victory.
“Prime Minister Modi has sought to win these polls on the strength of his strongman image. It is natural he will authorise the renaming of Tibetan places to live up to that image,” said Benu Ghosh, a former Intelligence Bureau officer with extensive experience on China and the border issue.
India perceives China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh as an attempt to strengthen Beijing’s claims over the region. In response, the Indian Army’s information warfare division, with support from prominent research institutes like the Asiatic Society in Kolkata, has undertaken extensive research to debunk Chinese names and reclaim historical names in Indian languages.
India’s strategy involves renaming places and organising media trips to disputed border areas, where journalists can interact with locals who oppose Chinese claims. The goal is to push a counter-narrative through regional and global media, backed by historical research and local testimonies.
China has renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh multiple times. The latest list, released in March 2024, renamed 30 locations, including residential areas, mountains, rivers, and more. This marks China’s fourth instance of such actions, following previous lists released in 2017, 2021, and 2023.
India has consistently rejected these moves. In 2023, then-External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, “Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality.”
India’s upcoming renaming of places in Tibet represents a significant shift in New Delhi’s approach. According to military officials, the new names will be grounded in historical research and challenge China’s territorial claims. This initiative is expected to “reopen the Tibetan question,” signaling a potential change in India’s stance on Tibet, which it has accepted as part of China since Beijing’s occupation.
The renaming campaign is part of a broader strategy to counter China’s aggressive cartographical and nomenclature tactics. India aims to assert its territorial integrity and sovereignty by reclaiming historical names and challenging Chinese claims.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has dismissed China’s claims on Arunachal Pradesh as “ludicrous” and reiterated that the state is a “natural part of India.” This strong rhetoric underscores India’s determination to counter China’s narratives and assert its claims over disputed territories.
As PM Modi’s new Government takes shape, renaming Tibetan places is poised to be one of its first major actions, reflecting a robust and assertive foreign policy stance. This move will likely have significant implications for India-China relations and the broader geopolitical landscape in the region.
