On Wednesday, India responded to what it called China’s “vain and ridiculous” attempts to rename 27 geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s Foreign Ministry defended its actions, insisting that the names were being standardized because, in their view, the region “belongs to China.”
Arunachal Pradesh is a mountainous area in northeastern India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, and Myanmar. Its rugged landscape contributes to a diverse population, consisting of various tribal groups who speak around 50 different languages and dialects.
Due to its challenging terrain, large cities and significant infrastructure projects are scarce, which has fueled ongoing tensions between India and China over the region. Many tribal residents have adopted Hindi and Hinduism due to their long-standing ties with India, but the absence of major developments makes it difficult for India to assert its control more effectively.
The region, including Arunachal Pradesh, is divided by a 700-mile border established in 1914, known as the McMahon Line. Sir Henry McMahon was the chief British negotiator who crafted an agreement between Tibet and China during colonial rule.
The McMahon Line technically separates India from Tibet, excluding China from the agreement. However, Beijing has disputed this, claiming Tibet rightfully belongs to them and therefore had no right to treaties of its own. China characterizes the border as an imperial imposition and refuses to acknowledge its legitimacy.
In a striking demonstration of its disdain for such imperialism, China later invaded Tibet. The Chinese government contends that its territorial claims should extend south of the McMahon Line, a stance firmly opposed by an independent India.
The ongoing conflict between India and China has erupted over disputes surrounding the delineated borders. Whereas India maintains one perspective, China refers to the whole area as “Zannan.” While physical altercations have occurred, both sides have generally avoided using firearms, instead resorting to brawls involving makeshift weapons.
Since 2017, China has periodically attempted to rename various geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh, typically selecting around 12 at once. Recently, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced a lengthy list of 27 newly designated names, which has caught India off guard, especially as relations appeared to be improving after the last territorial clash.
In a statement on Wednesday, Indian officials remarked, “We have noticed that China continues in vain and ridiculous attempts to assert claims over Arunachal Pradesh.”
“We firmly reject such attempts in line with our established position,” Jaiswal affirmed. “Creative naming won’t alter the undeniable reality of Arunachal Pradesh.”
In contrast, the Chinese government maintains, “Zannan is part of China’s territory. We are standardizing names of areas within our sovereignty.”
An Indian analyst condemned China’s actions as a “mattography attack,” noting the pattern of Chinese abuses directed more towards Tibetans than Indians. A researcher from the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi stated, “This is the fifth time China has renamed areas in Arunachal Pradesh. It forms part of a larger strategy concerning what we refer to as Tibet ‘Xizang.'” The implications stretch out longer than we might think.
