India rejects China’s renaming of Arunachal Pradesh locations, calls it baseless

India has strongly dismissed China’s latest move to rename several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that the state is an inseparable part of the country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a firm response on Tuesday, condemning what it called China’s “Vain and Preposterous” attempts to assert territorial claims through symbolic actions.

Also Read:China expresses concern over rising India-Pakistan tensions, urges restraint

The statement came after China released its fourth list of renamed locations in Arunachal Pradesh, including 30 places such as mountains, rivers, residential areas, and even a lake. These names were shared along with detailed geographical coordinates and high-resolution maps by Chinese authorities, who refer to the region as Zangnan.

According to reports, this is not a new tactic. China previously published similar lists in 2017 (6 places), 2021 (15 places), and 2023 (11 places). Despite these repeated efforts, India has remained clear in its stance that “Invented names” do not change facts on the ground. The MEA reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh “Was, is, and will always remain” an integral part of India.

This latest diplomatic exchange highlights the ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and India’s unwavering position on its territorial sovereignty.