China's Renewed Interest In Arunachal Pradesh: A Matter Of Concern

ITANAGAR: In recent times, New Delhi has been very concerned about China's rekindled interest in Arunachal Pradesh. South Tibet is the term used by China to refer to the about 90,000 square kilometers of the Indian state that it claims as its own territory.

According to the Simla Convention, signed in 1914 by Britain, China, and Tibet, the Chinese Republic has historically contested the legitimacy of the McMahon Line that distinguished British India from Tibet.

The line between eastern Bhutan and the Isu Razi pass on the China-Myanmar border is known as the McMahon Line, after Henry McMahon, who served as chief negotiator during the Simla Convention.

In Arunachal Pradesh, south of the McMahon Line, the Chinese have disputed and claimed territory.

Chinese statements protesting significant dignitary visits to Arunachal Pradesh have been made as part of their strategy.

As part of its policy, China has made public declarations expressing disapproval of significant dignitary visits to Arunachal Pradesh.

The Beijing administration has also started renaming areas of Arunachal Pradesh in compliance with rules on names published by the Chinese State Council as part of its nefarious endeavor.

In December 2021, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China announced that it was "standardizing" the names of 15 locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

However, the method has been used before. Prior to the Dalai Lama's visit to the state of Arunachal Pradesh in 2017 and as a form of protest against the entry of the Tibetan spiritual leader into the area, China renamed other significant localities in accordance with their "standardisation" process.

At the time, the Chinese delegates had also expressed a similar protest to their Indian counterparts. Eight residential areas, four mountains, two rivers, and one river pass were all renamed recently.

China's rekindled interest in the area comes at a time when relations between Beijing and New Delhi are at an all-time low as a result of recent border conflicts.

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