The United States has voiced strong opposition to China‘s recent actions of renaming 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh, a region claimed by both China and India. This move by Beijing has been seen as an attempt to reinforce its claim over the territory, but the US, alongside India, has firmly rejected these attempts, asserting Arunachal Pradesh’s status as an integral part of India.
According to the Times of India, a US State Department official expressed disapproval of China‘s actions, stating, “The United States strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control.” This line serves as the de facto border between China and India, spanning over 1,865 miles through the Himalayas.
India has also responded strongly to China‘s actions, with the Ministry of External Affairs and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju making it clear that such renaming efforts by China are unacceptable and do not change the fact that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India. Rijiju highlighted India’s progress in developing the border areas, suggesting that China’s actions stem from nervousness over India’s growing strength and development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
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SCMP news reported that this isn’t the first time China has attempted to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, with previous efforts made in 2023, shortly after India hosted a G20 meeting in the state. India‘s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded by emphasizing that changing names does not alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh’s sovereignty.
The strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh lies in its historical and cultural ties to Tibet, making it a region of interest for both India and China. In recent years, the US has aligned more closely with India, sharing intelligence and strengthening cooperation as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy to counter Chinese influence in the region.
This recent naming controversy further highlights the ongoing territorial disputes between China and India, with both countries having engaged in numerous military talks since clashes in 2020 resulted in casualties on both sides. Despite these discussions, there has been no significant breakthrough, with both nations continuing to maintain a strong military presence along the border.
The US’s support for India in this dispute is a clear indication of their partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at countering China‘s territorial ambitions and ensuring regional stability.
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