Chinese military says that Arunachal Pradesh is a “inherent part of China’s territory.”

Arunachal Pradesh is a “inherent part of China’s territory,” according to the Chinese military, which reaffirmed its claim to the region only days after India overruled Beijing’s objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.

The southern portion of Xizang, the Chinese name for Tibet, is an intrinsic part of China’s territory, according to Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang. Beijing “never acknowledges and firmly opposes” the so-called Arunachal Pradesh, which was illegally established by India, official media here reported.

Zhang’s comments were made in reaction to India’s improvement of its military preparedness via the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, as per an article published on the website of the Chinese Defense Ministry on Friday.

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.

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.

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.

The Rs 825 crore tunnel is being marketed as the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at such high altitude. It was built on the route that connects the West Kameng region of Arunachal Pradesh with Tezpur in Assam.

According to Indian military sources, the Sela Tunnel would enable improved troop and weapon mobility to different advanced sites along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry Senior Colonel Zhang stated, “The Indian side’s actions contradict the efforts made by both sides to ease border situations and are not conducive to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” without mentioning Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

According to him, there is efficient military and diplomatic contact between the two sides on border matters of mutual interest, and the border situation is now largely calm.

Zhang called on India to “stop actions that complicate the border issue and to earnestly maintain peace and stability in the border area.”

According to the article, he said that the Chinese military is still on high alert to protect territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Flags of China and India (Image File | AFP)
China’s opposition to PM Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh is vehemently rejected by India.
Zhang’s response comes after a statement made on Monday by the spokesman for China’s foreign ministry on the country’s diplomatic complaint against India over Modi’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

China objected, but India “strongly rejected” it, saying the state “was, is, and will” always be an essential and intrinsic part of India.

Spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi that the Chinese side was informed of this “consistent position” several times.

China’s opposition to these kinds of trips, according to Jaiswal, won’t alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.”

Arunachal Pradesh is sometimes visited by Indian leaders on their trips to other Indian states. It is illogical to object to these trips or India’s development initiatives, the speaker said.

“Further, it will not change the reality that the State of Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India,” Jaiswal said.