Invented names
Context:
India has categorically rejected China’s effort to assert sovereignty over areas of Arunachal Pradesh by renaming them. On Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced a new effort to “standardize” 11 place names in what China refers to as “South Tibet or Zangnan,” a region consistently controlled by India.
Points to ponder:
- China has tried to rename areas in Arunachal Pradesh, a state in India that China claims as its own.
- The Chinese government renamed 11 locations, including two residential areas, five mountain peaks, two rivers, and two distinct regions.
- China’s attempts have been rejected, and India has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the area.
- The new names, which are written in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Pinyin, leave no question that China’s list is a deliberate affront to India’s territorial sovereignty.
- This is China’s third such attempt since 2017, and it shows the low point in India-China relations.
- The three-year absence of real dialogue since the amassing of Chinese troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020 has not helped.
- There have been clashes between the two countries, including the deadly encounter at Galwan, but talks have followed, and some disengagement has occurred at standoff sites.
- The Indian government must investigate the motivations behind China’s persistent aggressions and plan a future course of action to offset China’s false narrative and territorial claims.
- The latest Chinese move could be related to several factors, including India’s rejection of a PLA attempt to take over a position at Yangtse and New Delhi’s decision to host a G-20 engagement group meeting on Innovation technology in Itanagar.
- Overall, the article recommends that India must take a firm stance and participate in meaningful dialogue with China to resolve the border dispute and avoid further Chinese aggression.
Way forward:
- The Wuhan and Mahabalipuram summits should serve as a guide for both parties in developing India-China relations, including not permitting differences to become disputes.
- Border troops should keep their dialogue, disengage quickly, maintain appropriate distance, and reduce tensions.
- All current agreements and protocols on China-India boundary affairs should be followed by both parties, and any action that could escalate things should be avoided.
- Continued contact via the Special Representatives method, as well as meetings of the Working method for Consultation and Coordination on border issues.
