New Delhi: India has firmly rejected China’s latest bid to rename several places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state has always been and will remain an inseparable part of the country. The response follows China’s release of a list on May 11–12, renaming 27 locations within the Indian state, in what is widely seen as another attempt to push territorial claims.
In a firm statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticised Beijing’s actions, describing them as absurd and futile. “China continues its senseless efforts to assign new names to areas within the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,” the MEA stated.
“Our stance remains clear and consistent. We categorically reject these attempts. Such symbolic renaming exercises cannot change the indisputable fact that Arunachal Pradesh is, was, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India,” the ministry added.
This is not the first instance of such an effort by China. Another list, which renamed 30 sites in Arunachal Pradesh, was released by Beijing in April 2024. These comprised lakes, a mountain pass, rivers, residential areas, and mountains. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs accompanied these names with specific coordinates and a high-resolution map, claiming the region as part of what it calls “Zangnan.”
The Chinese state-run Global Times reported the latest renaming, though its official X (formerly Twitter) account remains blocked in India for dissemination of misinformation. The list reportedly covers 12 mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, 11 residential sites, and a land tract.
India has repeatedly called out these unilateral actions, labeling them as baseless efforts to fabricate claims over Indian territory. Officials have emphasised that such moves do not hold any legal or political legitimacy.
Arunachal Pradesh, located in India’s northeastern frontier and bordering China, has long been a sensitive area in Sino-Indian relations. While Beijing continues to assert claims over the state, New Delhi maintains that Arunachal Pradesh has been under Indian sovereignty and governance since Independence.
This latest rebuttal from the Indian government reaffirms its unwavering position on the matter. With tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) still lingering, India’s diplomatic posture remains firm against any attempt to distort historical and geographical facts.
