'Arunachal an integral part, nothing can change that': MEA on China's 'objections'

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly reasserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an "inalienable and integral part of India," in response to China's ongoing objections. Speaking at a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that this fact is self-evident and nothing can alter this reality.

Jaiswal also addressed the broader India-China relations, stating that the two countries must maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas to ensure the overall development of bilateral ties. This sentiment was reiterated during the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism of the China-India Committee (WMCC), where both nations engaged in open discussions about border concerns.

In a bid to remove confusion, New Delhi has officially identified 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh using their standard names on the official Survey of India map. China, however, has repeatedly tried to assign its own names to these sites, a practice which India categorically rejects as "vain and preposterous."

Some of the 27 locations identified by India are strategically significant, such as Long Ju, which witnessed a major military clash in 1959, and Thag La, where one of the initial battles of the 1962 war occurred. Other notable sites include Jairampur, a key logistics center, and Jaswant Garh and the Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, both honoring Indian soldiers who fought in the 1962 war.

China maintains its own list of names for these locations, known as "Zangnan." However, India dismisses these names as "fictitious" and argues that they merely create "baseless narratives" without impacting the ground reality.