In a staunch reaffirmation of its stance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted on Thursday that China’s reiterated assertions regarding Arunachal Pradesh would not sway India’s position. The northeastern state, according to India, remains an integral and inalienable part of the nation despite China’s persistent claims.
Tensions between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh escalated following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the state to inaugurate the strategically significant Sela tunnel.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s firm stance during the weekly media briefing, emphasizing that China’s repeated assertions hold no weight against India’s longstanding position. Jaiswal dismissed China’s claims as baseless and emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will remain, an integral part of India.
China’s insistence on its sovereignty over what it refers to as Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, has been met with rejection by India as “ludicrous and absurd.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also criticized China during his recent Southeast Asia tour for failing to honor agreements with India.
The MEA’s response followed the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing, where both nations discussed unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.
Meanwhile, in response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks concerning the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year, Jaiswal stated that there was “nothing new” in Trudeau’s statements. India remains prepared to investigate any specific and concrete information provided, although no such information has been shared as of yet.
Trudeau’s remarks reiterated the seriousness of the matter, emphasizing the need for constructive cooperation between Canada and India to address the issue.
As tensions persist between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh, and discussions continue on resolving border issues, India maintains its unwavering stance on the status of the northeastern state, reaffirming its sovereignty amidst external assertions.
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