Arunachal Pradesh is officially recognized as Indian territory by the US

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese military reaffirmed its claim to the state. In response, the United States recognized Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and vehemently opposed any attempts to advance territorial claims across the Line of Actual Control, an official spokesperson stated.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated earlier this week that Beijing “never acknowledges and firmly opposes” the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India” and that the southern region of Xizang, the Chinese name for Tibet, is an inherent part of China’s territory.

China often opposes to trips by Indian politicians to Arunachal Pradesh in order to accentuate their claims, since it regards the state as South Tibet. The region is also known as Zangnan in Beijing.

Prime Minister Modi dedicated the 13,000-foot Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh to the country on March 9. The tunnel would allow for improved military mobility along the border area and offer Tawang, which is strategically placed, with all-weather connection.

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokeswoman for the State Department
Chinese military says that Arunachal Pradesh is a “inherent part of China’s territory.”

“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,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Wednesday at his daily press conference.

China’s territorial claims to Arunachal Pradesh have been consistently denied by India, which maintains that the state constitutes an essential component of its territory. Beijing’s decision to give the region “invented” names has also been rejected by New Delhi, which claims it has no effect on reality.

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson’s recent remarks about “advancing absurd claims” over Arunachal Pradesh’s territory were noted by the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday. The state’s assertion that it “was, is, and will always be” an integral and inalienable part of India was also noted.

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokeswoman for the State Department
China’s opposition to PM Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh is vehemently rejected by India.