India has firmly rejected China’s repeated attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move “vain and preposterous” and reiterating that the northeastern state is an inseparable part of the country. In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to Beijing’s continued issuance of so-called “standardised names” for several locations within Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as “South Tibet.” The Indian government dismissed these actions as baseless and politically motivated. “We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,” the MEA said. “Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”
This is not the first time China has made such claims. Over the years, Beijing has released multiple lists of Chinese names for places in Arunachal Pradesh in an apparent effort to bolster its territorial claim. However, India has consistently maintained that the entire territory of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and has always been under Indian administration. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also echoed this firm stance, stating, “China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. We firmly reject such attempts. 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.” Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, also condemned the move, describing it as a propaganda tactic. “Another gimmick from China. Being a proud citizen of Bharat and a native of Arunachal Pradesh, I strongly condemn this act of naming places within Arunachal Pradesh which has been an integral part of India,” Khandu posted on social media earlier.
Observers see China’s move as part of a broader geopolitical strategy to assert its territorial claims along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). However, India remains resolute in countering such moves diplomatically and continues to develop infrastructure and strengthen civilian and defense presence in the region. The tensions over Arunachal Pradesh form a part of the larger India-China border dispute, which spans over 3,400 km. Despite several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, both countries continue to hold differing perceptions of the LAC, particularly in the eastern sector.
