'Arunachal Pradesh Is Indian Territory': US State Department Sends A Strong Message To China

The United States on Wednesday reiterated its stance that Arunachal Pradesh is Indian territory and strongly opposed any unilateral attempts made to advance territorial claims across the Line of Actual Control.

Speaking at his daily press conference, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “The United States recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control.”

This remark from the US State Department came days after the Chinese military reiterated its claim over the state following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit there. A Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson earlier this week said that the southern part of Xizang (the Chinese name for Tibet) is an inherent part of China’s territory, and Beijing “never acknowledges and firmly opposes” the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India”.

China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, routinely objects to Indian leaders’ visits to the state to highlight its claims. Beijing has also named the area Zangnan. On March 9, Prime Minister Modi dedicated to the nation the Sela Tunnel built at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh that will provide all-weather connectivity to strategically located Tawang and is expected to ensure better movement of troops along the frontier region.

Read More: ‘Was, Is, Will Always Be Integral Part Of…’: India Dismisses China’s ‘Absurd Claims’ Over Arunachal Pradesh

India has repeatedly rejected China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of the country. New Delhi has also dismissed Beijing’s move to assign “invented” names to the area, saying it did not alter the reality. The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said it has noted the latest comments made by the spokesperson of the Chinese Defence Ministry “advancing absurd claims” over the territory of Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state “was, is and will always be” an integral and inalienable part of India.

Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the recent Chinese statement on Arunachal, stating, “They (China) have been saying it since the times of Jawaharlal Nehru. At that time, they had even captured a big part. I was not born then in 1962. But under the Modi government, no one can dare to even take an inch of land at any Indian border. This is our promise to the people of Bharat.”

(With agency inputs)