1. China protests PM Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh for the Sela Tunnel inauguration.
2. Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, reaffirms China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh.
3. China rejects India’s administration of the region, referring to it as the ‘Zangnan area’.
Itanagar, March 11: China has lodged a formal protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, where he inaugurated the newly constructed Sela Tunnel, citing concerns over the disputed territory.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, reiterated China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as the ‘Zangnan area’ and rejecting India’s administration of the region.
The Chinese government maintains that India’s development activities in Arunachal Pradesh exacerbate the ongoing border disputes between the two countries and impede efforts to resolve them.
China criticized PM Modi’s visit to the eastern section of the China-India boundary, expressing strong disapproval, emphasizing the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution of territorial disagreements.
PM Modi’s inauguration of the Sela Tunnel, constructed for Rs 825 crore, is seen as a strategic move to bolster infrastructure and enhance connectivity to the remote region of Tawang near the China-India border.
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The tunnel is expected to facilitate all-weather transportation and improve the mobility of troops and military equipment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), enhancing India’s defensive capabilities in the frontier area.
India, however, maintains its stance on Arunachal Pradesh, asserting its sovereignty over the region and rejecting China’s territorial claims. The Indian government has consistently emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will continue to pursue its regional development initiatives.