'Integral, Inalienable Part Of India': MEA Rejects China's Objection Over PM Modi's Visit To Arunachal Pradesh

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday (12 March) rejected China's objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable" part of India, the MEA said that China's objection to visits of Indian leaders "does not stand to reason".

"We reject the comments made by the Chinese side regarding the visit of the Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh. Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other States of India," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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"Objecting to such visits or India's developmental projects does not stand to reason," he said.

"Further, it will not change the reality that the State of Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Chinese side has been made aware of this consistent position on several occasions," he added.

Beijing on Monday (11 March) said it lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh last week.

PM Modi on Saturday (9 March) dedicated to the nation the Rs 825 crore 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.

China claims the area, which it refers to as South Tibet, as its own and has repeatedly objected to Indian leaders' visits to the state to highlight its claims.

Further, Beijing has also named the area as Zangnan.

At a press briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "Zangnan area is Chinese territory".

The Chinese government has "never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India and firmly opposes it," he said.

The China-India boundary question has yet to be solved.

"India has no right to arbitrarily develop the area of Zangnan in China. India's relevant moves will only complicate the boundary question and disrupt the situation in the border areas between the two countries," he said.

"China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the Indian leader's visit to the East Section of the China-India boundary. We have made solemn representations to India," Wang added.

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