Zangnan part of China’s territory: Beijing after India rejects renaming of areas in Arunachal Pradesh

Zangnan is part of China’s territory and inside China’s sovereign rights, talked about Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, after India rejected China’s claims of renaming 11 areas in Arunachal Pradesh.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 5, 2023 15:05 IST

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning attends a data conference in Beijing, China, February 3 (Photo: Reuters/File)

By Geeta Mohan: A day after India rejected China’s renaming of 11 areas in Arunachal Pradesh, China talked about ‘Zangnan’ was part of its territory and it was “within its sovereign rights” to rename the areas.

Asked about why China renamed these areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, instructed AFP, “Zangnan is part of China’s territory. In accordance with relevant stipulations of the administration of geographical names of the State Council, competent authorities of the Chinese government have standardized the names of some parts of Zangnan. This is within China’s sovereign rights.”

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs on Sunday launched the standardised names of 11 areas for Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”, in accordance with legal guidelines on geographical names issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet.

The official names of the 11 areas had been launched on Sunday by the ministry. The names included two land areas, two residential areas, 5 mountain peaks and two rivers.

This is simply not the first time that China’s civil affairs ministry has issued a batch of standardised geographical names for Arunachal Pradesh. The first batch of the standardised names of six areas in Arunachal was launched in 2017, and the second batch of 15 areas was issued in 2021.

ALSO READ | China renames 11 areas in Arunachal Pradesh, calls it ‘southern Tibet’

The first set of names was launched by China in 2017 days after the Dalai Lama’s go to to Arunachal Pradesh. China was sharply important of the Tibetan religious chief’s go to.

INDIA’s RESPONSE

India on Tuesday dismissed China’s switch of renaming some areas in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state has “always been” and might “always be” an integral part of India.

“This is not the first time China has attempted such a renaming of places in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi talked about in December 2021.

“Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be an integral part of India. Assigning invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not alter this fact,” he had talked about.

CHINA TRYING TO INSTIGATE INDIA, SAYS ARUNACHAL MLA

According to Ninong Erring, an MLA from Arunachal Pradesh, instructed India Today, “Arunachal is part of India and the people here have nationalistic feelings, no doubt. But I would like to bring to your notice that we have our ITBP and Army jawans in most of these places. The places towards the eastern part, in upper Dibang valley. Don’t know what kind of policy the Chinese have adopted in just naming jungles. They are just trying to instigate India. It is unfortunate.”

“They should come for the G20 summit and we will explain to them that what they are showing on the map is a part of Indian territory,” he added.

Meanwhile, the United States “strongly opposed” China’s makes an try to advance a declare over Indian territory, Arunachal Pradesh by renaming localities, the White House talked about on Tuesday.

“This is another attempt by the Chinese claim on Indian territory. So the United States, as you know, has recognised that territory for a long time and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance a territory claim by renaming localities. And so, again, this is something that we have long stood by a few things,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre talked about.

ALSO READ | Strongly oppose any unilateral makes an try: US backs India after China renames 11 areas in Arunachal Pradesh

Published On:

Apr 5, 2023