Beijing: In swift retaliation to the United States’ declaration recognizing Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and voicing opposition against unilateral territorial assertions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China expressed its vehement disapproval on Thursday, asserting it “strongly deplores and firmly opposes” the move. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that Washington had no jurisdiction over the India-China border dispute.
Responding to inquiries from the official Chinese media during a press briefing, Lin Jian stated, “China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.”
China’s forceful reaction ensued after Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, remarked during a routine press briefing on Wednesday that the US acknowledges Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory.
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“The United States recognizes 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,” Patel had affirmed.
Quoting Lin, PTI reported, “The delimitation of the China-India boundary has not been completed,” adding, “Zangnan” (the official Chinese designation for Arunachal Pradesh) has always been China’s territory. This is an undeniable basic fact.”
“The question of the China-India border issue is between China and India and it has nothing to do with the US,” Lin clarified.
Lin further pointed out that the US has consistently intervened in and exploited disputes in other countries to serve its own geopolitical interests, a widely acknowledged fact.
These statements from US officials emerged shortly after the Chinese military reiterated its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region.
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On March 15, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang vehemently opposed India’s assertion of sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, affirming that the southern part of Xizang (Tibet) is an integral part of China.
China, asserting Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, regularly protests against visits by Indian leaders to the state, aimed at highlighting India’s sovereignty.
On March 9, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the strategically significant Sela Tunnel, located at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh. This tunnel is intended to bolster all-weather connectivity to Tawang, enhancing troop mobility along the frontier.
India has consistently rebuffed China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating that the state is an integral part of the country. New Delhi has also dismissed Beijing’s efforts to assign arbitrary names to the region, asserting that such actions do not alter the ground reality.
The Ministry of External Affairs, on March 19, acknowledged the recent statements made by the spokesperson of the Chinese Defence Ministry, categorizing them as baseless claims regarding the territory of Arunachal Pradesh. India reaffirmed that the state has been, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of the country.
