In April 2023, the Chinese government announced it would “standardize” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. This is an important development having great ramifications for the bilateral relations between India and China. This article details the Chinese government’s stand and how India reacted to this announcement and also the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam international relations segment.
China Renames 11 Places in Arunachal
China published a list of 11 locations that depict sections of Arunachal Pradesh as being within the southern Tibetan region known as Zangnan.
- Even a town adjacent to Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, was added by China.
- With this list, China is attempting a third time to “rename” locations in Arunachal Pradesh by giving them what it refers to as “standardised geographical names.”
- The Chinese Ministry of Civilian Affairs published a similar list of six locations in 2017 and a list of 15 locations it wished to rename in December 2021.
- Five mountain peaks, two more inhabited areas, two land areas, and two rivers are among the 11 locations mentioned. India has always had command and control over the disputed territory.
- Beijing has taken the same action in the South China Sea and the East China Sea in addition to Arunachal Pradesh.
Source: Times of India
India’s Conflict with China
The renaming of disputed areas is an effort by China to strengthen its territorial claims and to produce or modify evidence in support of those claims in the event that any disputes over sovereignty are brought before an international court.
- There have been rumours of Chinese attempts to cross the lines despite multiple rounds of formal talks and military commander-level talks that resulted in disengagement in some sectors after the Galwan deaths in 2020.
- India has greatly improved its weaponry along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh recently, particularly after the 2020 standoff in eastern Ladakh, and increased infrastructure in the region’s forward sectors, particularly the Tawang sector.
- Eastern Arunachal is currently undergoing a significant infrastructure overhaul.
Read more on India – China relations in the linked article.
Why is China interested in Arunachal Pradesh?
The following are some of the major reasons why China is eyeing Arunachal Pradesh.
- Strategic location of Arunachal Pradesh: The closest point for India to launch missiles towards China is in Arunachal Pradesh. Also, Arunachal is the ideal place for India to set up a multi-layered air defense system in preparation for potential Chinese attacks. China will therefore have a tactical edge if it can dominate Arunachal.
- Geographical claims: The biggest state in the northeast is Arunachal Pradesh, which is bordered by Tibet to the north and northwest, Bhutan to the west, and Myanmar to the east. To the northeast, the state acts as a shield.
- Entry in Tawang: China may have a tactical interest in Tawang since it offers a strategic entrance into northeastern India. Tawang is a key location in the route connecting Tibet and the Brahmaputra Valley.
- Political significance: The Dalai Lama entered India through Tawang in 1959 during a crackdown in China and spent some time in the Tawang monastery.
- The Bhutan factor: The Kingdom of Bhutan would have China as a neighbour on both its western and eastern borders if Beijing were to take control of Arunachal.
- Cultural connections: Several tribes in the upper Arunachal region share cultural ties with the Tibetan people. There are members of the Monpa tribe who follow Tibetan Buddhism and who can be found in several parts of Tibet.
- China’s anxieties: Some experts claim that China is concerned that the existence of these ethnic groups in Arunachal may eventually spark a pro-democracy Tibetan movement against the Chinese government.
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