US Senate Congressional Committee Passes Resolution Recognizing Arunachal Pradesh As Integral Part Of India

Recently, a bipartisan resolution recognizing Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India was adopted by a Congressional Senatorial Committee, less than a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic state visit to the U.S.

On Thursday, July 13, Senators Jeff Merkley, Bill Hagerty, Tim Kaine, and Chris Van Hollen introduced the resolution for a full vote in the Senate.

The resolution reaffirms the United States' recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It aims to counter Chinese claims that large portions of Arunachal Pradesh belong to the PRC, which align with the PRC's increasingly aggressive and expansionist policies.

The resolution will now proceed to the Senate floor for a full vote.

Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, emphasized the importance of America's values of freedom and a rules-based order in all global actions and relationships. He highlighted the need to counter the alternative vision promoted by the PRC government.

The passage of this resolution by the committee confirms that the United States recognizes the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India, rather than the People's Republic of China.

It also commits the U.S. to providing increased support and assistance to the region, in collaboration with like-minded international partners.

Hagerty stressed the criticality of standing with strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly India and other Quad countries, in the face of China's growing threats.

He emphasized the need to push back against the Chinese Communist Party's territorial expansion strategy in the South and East China Seas, the Himalayas, and the southern Pacific.

Senator Cornyn emphasized the importance of supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific amidst escalating tensions between India and China over their shared border. He urged the United States to stand strong in defense of democracy.

The speaker urged his colleagues to pass a resolution that would reaffirm the recognition of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India.

China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan and claims it as South Tibet.

However, India's External Affairs Ministry firmly rejects the bogus claim and asserts that Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of India, territorially and historically.

Surprisingly, China routinely protests visits of top Indian leaders and officials to Arunachal Pradesh in a vain effort to assert its claim over the region.