India firm on Arunachal Pradesh’s integral status amid China’s claims

India has reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh remains an “integral and inalienable part of India,” dismissing China’s recurrent assertions to the contrary.

During a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized India’s unwavering position on the matter. He stated, “China may repeat its baseless claims as many times as they want. That is not going to change the position. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”

Jaiswal’s remarks follow recent comments from the Chinese Defence Ministry, which reiterated Beijing’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangan–an inherent part of China’s territory.”

India swiftly rejected these assertions, labeling them as “absurd” and “baseless,” reiterating Arunachal Pradesh’s status as an integral part of the country. The MEA further emphasized India’s commitment to the development and welfare of the people of Arunachal Pradesh through various developmental programs and infrastructure projects.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also emphasized India’s position during a recent visit to Singapore. Addressing the issue during an event at the Institute of South Asian Studies, Jaishankar termed China’s claims as “ludicrous” and reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India because it is inherently so, not merely because of external assertions.

Jaishankar emphasized India’s consistency on this matter and affirmed that it would be part of the ongoing boundary discussions between the two countries.

India’s resolute stance underscores its commitment to upholding its territorial integrity and sovereignty, even in the face of persistent external challenges.