On Tuesday, India strongly condemned China for its persistent and "preposterous" efforts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, confirming that the northeastern state is a vital and integral part of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a firm statement denying China's actions following media questions on the issue.
"We have witnessed China persisting with its vain and absurd efforts at renaming locations in Arunachal Pradesh. In keeping with our strong position, we unequivocally reject these efforts. This innovative renaming will never alter the irrefutable fact that Arunachal Pradesh has been, is, and will always be an integral and indispensable part of India," the MEA asserted.
In spite of India's repeated objections, China is said to have released the fourth list in April, renaming 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which India considers a blatant disregard of its sovereignty.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu was very critical of China's actions, tweeting, "Another gimmick from China. As a proud citizen of Bharat and an Arunachal Pradeshia, I unequivocally condemn this bid to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which have always been and will always remain part of India. Proud citizens and patriots of Arunachal Pradesh are united in rejecting such antics."
India had before rejected similar attempts by China at renaming, and the MEA reiterated that stance: "We reject such attempts categorically. Naming locations with fictitious titles shall not change the fact that Arunachal Pradesh is, has always been, and will remain a critical part of India."
India also has another issue with China's Tibet hydropower projects. In December 2024, China sanctioned a large-scale hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which runs from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, known as the Brahmaputra there.
India was concerned about this development. "We have seen the Xinhua announcement of December 25, 2024, about the hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. As a downstream country with historic rights over the river waters, we have repeatedly raised our concerns with China at both expert and diplomatic levels about large-scale projects on rivers in Chinese territory," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a press briefing.
India continues to keep an eye on any upstream developments that might affect the flow and availability of water downstream.
China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015) envisioned three hydropower schemes on the main stream of the Brahmaputra in Tibet, with the first at Jiacha going on stream in August 2020. China's subsequently passed 14th Five-Year Plan, endorsed in March 2021, went further and consolidated plans for hydropower development at the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra, which has evoked both strategic and environmental concerns in India.
The Indian government has reiterated that it is keeping a close watch on all developments on transboundary rivers and will take proportionate action to protect its interests, while persisting in making efforts with China through all possible diplomatic means.
Read also| India Rejects China's Renaming of Arunachal Areas: 'Creative Naming Won't Change Reality'
