China renames 30 locations in latest move to assert claim over Arunachal Pradesh: Report

• Image Credit: Google

• Apr 1, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The Ministry released the nation's most recent list of "standardized" names on Saturday.

Digital Desk: The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs renamed thirty more locations in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday in an attempt to assert its claim to what it refers to be Zangnan, or a portion of the Tibetan autonomous area, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Ministry released the nation's most recent list of "standardized" names on Saturday. The list comprised eleven residential areas, twelve mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, and a plot of land. It is currently unknown what the renamed locations are called. Each of these names was displayed in Tibetan script, Chinese characters, and pinyin, which is the Roman alphabet equivalent of Mandarin Chinese, according to the SCMP report.

“In accordance with the relevant provisions of the State Council [China’s cabinet] on the management of geographical names, we in conjunction with the relevant departments have standardised some of the geographical names in Zangnan of China," the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs as quoted by the South China Morning Post.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs released the third set of 11 locations last April, including two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks, and two rivers. The ministry also listed the names of the places in the category along with the subordinate administrative districts that they had renamed, according to the state-run Global Times. In Arunachal, the standardised names of six locations were released in the first batch in 2017, while the remaining fifteen locations were provided in a second batch in 2021.

Earlier on March 28, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Arunachal Pradesh "was, is, and will always remain" a vital and inalienable part of the country, and Beijing could "repeat its baseless claims" as many as it wanted. Days had passed since Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reaffirmed China's assertion when he made his remarks.

Recently, the Chinese military also criticised the US for claiming that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India, saying that China and India have developed communication networks, capable governments, and the determination to resolve border disputes amicably through negotiations and diplomacy. In response, he gave voice to his thoughts on March 9 to US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, who said, "We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control." The United States recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as an Indian territory.