China has once again asserted its long-standing claim over Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining that the region has always belonged to its territory, despite India rebuffing Beijing's assertions as "absurd" and "ludicrous".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, reiterated China's stance in response to remarks made by India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, who labeled China's repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh as "ludicrous" and emphasized that the state is an integral part of India.
"This is not a novel issue. China has persistently asserted its claim, which we find baseless then and now," Jaishankar remarked during a lecture at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS). "Our position remains clear and consistent. This matter will be addressed within the ongoing boundary discussions," he added.
Lin, in response to queries from the official media regarding Jaishankar's remarks, reiterated that the border between India and China remains undelineated. "The eastern sector, which includes Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh), has always been under China's jurisdiction," he stated. Lin further contended that China had maintained administrative control over the area until what he termed as India's "illegal occupation".
"In 1987, India unilaterally declared the establishment of 'Arunachal Pradesh' on Chinese territory, a move vehemently opposed by China. Our stance on this remains unwavering," Lin emphasized.
This recent assertion from China marks the fourth time this month that it has reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing expressed its displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the region on March 9, reaffirming its territorial claim.
China, referring to Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, consistently protests against visits by Indian dignitaries to the state, insisting on its claim. The Chinese Defense Minister also echoed this claim recently, though it was promptly dismissed by India's Ministry of External Affairs.
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