Apr 4 : China has lodged a strong protest with India after the country’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. The statement came in response to recent comments by a Chinese diplomat that appeared to question India’s sovereignty over the northeastern state.
The Chinese diplomat had reportedly referred to Arunachal Pradesh as “Southern Tibet,” a term that India has strongly objected to in the past. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the remarks, stating that they were a “blatant disregard of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China has long claimed parts of Arunachal Pradesh as its own, and the two countries have had several disputes over the border in the region. The latest exchange of words is likely to further strain the already tense relationship between the two Asian powers.
India and China have been engaged in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. The two countries have held several rounds of talks to try and resolve the issue, but a lasting resolution has yet to be reached.
The latest controversy over Arunachal Pradesh is likely to further complicate matters, and it remains to be seen how the two sides will move forward.
