China renames Indian villages as border dispute escalates

Tawang is at the center of a border dispute between India and China. Photo: Dhruba Jyoti Barua/iStockphoto

Beijing renamed 30 Indian villages. , rivers and lakes in its latest attempt to claim sovereignty over the disputed border region.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said it has «standardized» the geographical names of 30 places in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal. Pradesh.

The move heightens tensions between the two countries as China strengthens its claims to what it calls «Southern Tibet.»

India hit back, saying renaming will not change Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

“If I change the name of your house, will it become mine?” Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, said:

“Arunachal Pradesh was an Indian state, remains an Indian state and will remain so in the future. Changing names won't achieve anything.”

Tensions are rising along the Line of Actual Control that separates the countries. Photo: MONEY SHARMA/AFP

Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs, said: “We strongly reject such attempts. Assigning fictitious names will not change the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been and always will be an integral and integral part of India.»

Tension has been rising along the Line of Actual Control dividing the countries since May 2020, with soldiers from each side engaged in hand-to-hand combat and beat each other with bats and nails.

At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed in the shootout.

On March 9, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh and inaugurated the strategic Sela Tunnel, built in a mountain at a height. 13,000 feet high.

The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang, which is at the center of the border dispute between India and China in the eastern sector.

In March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh. Photo: NurPhoto

Two days later, on March 11, China lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Mr Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to a question about Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh at a media briefing, said that “the Cangnan area is Chinese territory.”

Mr. Wenbin said: “The Chinese government has never recognized the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally created by India and is firmly opposed to it. The border issue between China and India has not yet been resolved. India has no right to arbitrarily develop Zangnan territory in China.” India rejected the protest.

The move increases tensions between the two countries as China escalates its claims that he calls 'Southern Tibet' Photo: GYAN PRATIM RAICHOWDHURY/iStock Editorial

On October 24, 2021, China passed a new law that effectively gives the state the power to improve infrastructure in border areas and ensure the resettlement of people.

It calls for Chinese sovereignty. and territorial integrity is «sacred and inviolable» and allows Beijing to «take measures to protect territorial integrity and land borders, and prevent and combat any actions that undermine territorial sovereignty and land borders.»

Up to 70,000 Indian soldiers continue to remain at the border for the fifth year in a row amid escalating tensions between the two countries.