United States affirms Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory after China’s claim

The United States affirms its recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and expresses strong opposition to any unilateral efforts by China to assert territorial claims across the Line of Actual Control, stated State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel.

This statement from a Biden administration official follows recent assertions by the Chinese military regarding the northeastern state, prompted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and launch of development projects there.

Earlier this week, the Chinese defense ministry reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangnan,” described as an integral part of China’s territory. Beijing asserted it “never acknowledges and firmly opposes” the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India.”

Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, emphasized on March 15, “Zangnan is China’s inherent territory, and China never recognizes and firmly opposes India’s illegal establishment of the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh.'”

In response to inquiries during a Wednesday press briefing, Patel reiterated the U.S. stance, stating, “The United States recognizes 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.”

India has consistently refuted China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh, asserting its integral and inalienable part of the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs issued an official statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that the people of Arunachal Pradesh will continue to benefit from India’s development initiatives and infrastructure projects.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed China’s assertions, stating, “Repeating baseless arguments in this regard does not lend such claims any validity.” He reiterated, “Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Its people will continue to benefit from our development programs and infrastructure projects.”