The Chinese military has restated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, affirming the region as an "integral part of China's territory," in the wake of India's rejection of Beijing's opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Chinese Defence Ministry, emphasized that the southern segment of Xizang, known as Tibet in China, is an inherent part of the nation's territory. He reiterated China's firm stance against the "so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India," as reported by official media outlets.
Zhang's statement came in response to India's bolstering of military readiness via the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, as detailed in a report on the Chinese Defence Ministry's website. China, asserting Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, routinely objects to visits by Indian leaders to the region to assert its claims, referring to the area as Zangnan.
India has consistently refuted China's territorial assertions over Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining that it is an integral part of the country. New Delhi has dismissed Beijing's attempts to assign "fabricated" names to the region, asserting that such actions do not alter the ground reality.
On March 9, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel, constructed at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel is aimed at providing all-weather connectivity to strategically important Tawang and facilitating smoother troop movement along the frontier. Costing Rs 825 crore, it is touted as the world's longest bi-lane road tunnel at such a high altitude.
Indian military officials highlight that the Sela Tunnel will enhance the movement of troops and armaments to various forward locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Zhang expressed concern over India's actions, stating they run counter to efforts to ease border tensions and maintain peace in the border areas, although he refrained from directly mentioning Modi's visit. He emphasized the generally stable nature of the current border situation, with effective diplomatic and military communication between both sides on common border issues.
Zhang urged India to refrain from actions that complicate border matters and to earnestly uphold peace and stability in the region. He underscored the Chinese military's unwavering commitment to defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zhang's response follows a statement by China's foreign ministry spokesperson lodging a diplomatic protest with India over Modi's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh. India staunchly rejected China's objection, reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will remain an integral and inseparable part of India. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized India's consistent position on the matter, stating that China's objections to such visits do not alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh's status within India.
Jaiswal emphasized that Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh just as they visit other states of India, asserting that objections to these visits or India's developmental projects lack justification. He reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.
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