Amidst heightened tensions, China has unveiled a fresh roster of 30 new names for various locales within Arunachal Pradesh, signaling Beijing's persistent stance on the disputed territory. India, however, remains resolute in its rejection of China's attempts to rename regions in Arunachal Pradesh, affirming the state's integral status within the nation and dismissing the legitimacy of such "fabricated" appellations.
Reportedly, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs has disclosed this fourth compilation of standardized geographical designations under the moniker Zangnan, which China employs to refer to Arunachal Pradesh, a region it claims as part of southern Tibet. The roster, published on the ministry's official website, encompasses 30 additional titles for the area.
Scheduled to come into effect from May 1, the implementation guidelines outlined in Article 13 explicitly prohibit the direct quoting or translation of place names in foreign languages that may undermine China's territorial assertions and sovereignty without official authorization, as per the report.
This isn't the first instance of such actions by China; the initial list comprising six standardized names for Zangnan was unveiled in 2017, followed by subsequent releases of 15 and 11 names in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Recent efforts by China to reinforce its claims over Arunachal Pradesh were catalyzed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region, particularly his inauguration of the Sela Tunnel, a crucial infrastructure project aimed at enhancing all-weather connectivity to the strategically significant Tawang at an altitude of 13,000 feet.
In response to China's persistent assertions, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar labeled the claims as "ludicrous" during a lecture at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS). He reiterated India's firm stance on the issue, highlighting that Arunachal Pradesh is an inherent part of the country.
Moreover, Beijing expressed discontent over the United States' acknowledgment of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory. Despite China's objections, the US reiterated its stance, emphasizing its recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian soil and condemning any unilateral actions aimed at altering territorial boundaries.
Regarding the recent release of names by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, adherence to translation standards formulated by relevant State Council organs is mandated, with standardized translations being disseminated through official notifications, the national geographical names database, and sanctioned publications.
The revised regulation on place names issued by the State Council in April 2022 governs the naming, renaming, usage, and cultural preservation of geographical designations within Chinese territories, underscoring the administrative framework guiding such endeavors.
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