India has strongly rejected China’s latest move to rename parts of Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming its long-standing stance that the state is an integral and inalienable part of the country. In a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, India criticized China’s repeated attempts to rename locations within Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move “vain and preposterous.” Jaiswal emphasized, “Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.”

The issue stems from China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as “Zangnan,” considering it part of what it calls South Tibet. India has consistently dismissed these claims as baseless. Beijing has attempted to bolster its claim by renaming geographical features in the region. In 2023, China announced it had standardized names for around 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh, including 12 mountains, four rivers, a lake, a mountain pass, several residential areas, and a tract of land. India had earlier described this move as “senseless.”

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations have persisted along the disputed border. In December 2022, minor clashes were reported between troops from both sides, although subsequent diplomatic and military dialogues helped ease the situation.

China also objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2023 to inaugurate infrastructure projects. India dismissed China’s objections as baseless and reaffirmed its sovereign right to develop its own territory.

The United States has also weighed in on the matter, stating unequivocally that it recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and opposes any unilateral attempts—whether military or civilian—to alter the status quo through incursions or encroachments.

India’s message remains clear: no matter how creatively China may rename locations, the geopolitical reality of Arunachal Pradesh’s status will remain unchanged.