India slams China's 'preposterous' attempt to rename places
India slams China's 'preposterous' attempt to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh
India on Tuesday lambasted China for its repeated and "preposterous" attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that the north-eastern state is an integral and inalienable part of the country
NEW DELHI — India on Tuesday lambasted China for its repeated and "preposterous"
attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that the
north-eastern state is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
Responding to media queries over the matter, the Ministry
of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement rejecting China's actions.
"We have noticed that China has persisted with its
vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal
Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts
categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that
Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable
part of India," the MEA stated.
Despite India's consistent opposition, China reportedly
released its fourth list in April, renaming 30 locations in Arunachal Pradesh,
a move that India sees as a blatant disregard of sovereignty.
Reacting sharply to the development, Arunachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Pema Khandu had condemned the Chinese move in a post on X,
saying, "Another gimmick from China. Being a proud citizen of Bharat and a
native of Arunachal Pradesh, I strongly condemn this act of naming places
within Arunachal Pradesh, which have been an inalienable integral part of
India. Proud citizens and patriots of Arunachal Pradesh are rejecting such
antics."
India had similarly dismissed earlier renaming attempts
by China, with the MEA reiterating its stance: "We firmly reject such
attempts. Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal
Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of
India."
Separately, concerns continue to mount in India over
China's hydropower activities in Tibet. In December 2024, China approved the
construction of a large hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung
Tsangpo River, which flows from Tibet into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and is
known in India as the Brahmaputra.
"We have seen the information released by Xinhua on
25th December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River
in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. As a lower riparian state with
established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently
expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and
concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their
territory," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
India remains vigilant regarding any upstream
developments that could affect water flow and availability downstream.
In the past, China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015) had
proposed three hydropower projects on the main stream of the Brahmaputra in
Tibet, the first of which -- at Jiacha -- became operational in August 2020.
Later, China's 14th Five-Year Plan, adopted in March
2021, further confirmed plans for hydropower development on the lower reaches
of the Brahmaputra River, sparking strategic and environmental concerns in
India.
The Indian government has reiterated that it closely
monitors all developments related to transboundary rivers and will take
necessary measures to safeguard its interests, while continuing to raise
concerns with China through all appropriate channels.
