Washington, D.C., April 05: The United States has voiced its strong opposition to China’s attempts to advance a territorial claim over Indian territory, Arunachal Pradesh, by renaming localities. This statement was made by the White House on Tuesday after China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs standardized the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet.”
“This is another attempt by the Chinese claim on us, Indian territory. So the United States, as you know, has recognized that territory for a long time and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance a territory claim by renaming localities. And so, again, this is something that we have long stood by a few things,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The Ministry announced the names of 11 places on Sunday and also gave precise coordinates, including two residential areas, five mountain peaks, two rivers, and two other areas. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs also listed the category of places’ names and their subordinate administrative districts, according to a Global Times report.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected China’s attempt to rename places of Arunachal Pradesh outright, saying, “Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality.”
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The United States recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory, and the White House‘s spokesperson stated that they strongly oppose any unilateral attempts by China to advance territorial claims by renaming localities.
The US considers its relationship with India one of the most consequential relationships in the world, and Ambassador Eric Garcetti will lead an ambitious effort to deepen cooperation with India in critical and emerging technologies, expand defense cooperation, and strengthen economic and people-to-people ties.
