Arunachal Pradesh 'integral & inalienable part of India': MEA shuts China down

Responding to provocative statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry, on October 13, spokesperson for External Affairs Ministry, Arindam Bagchi, dismissed any ambiguity in relation to Arunachal Presh's status in country.

In dition, MEA urged Beijing to 'work towards early resolution of remaining issues along LAC in Eastern Lakh' rar than 'trying to link unrelated issues'. reply holds relevance as Xi Jinping-led ministration were said to have 'firmly opposed' Vice President Vekaiah Naidu's visit to Arunachal Presh on October 9. 

MEA dismisses China's opposition to VP Naidu's visit to Indian state

Dismissing China's self-me locus in internal interests and matters of country, Bagchi said that Beijing's objection to visit of an Indian leer to one of Indian states (Arunachal Presh) was beyond 'understanding of Indian people'. 

"We have noted comments me today by Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Presh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leers routinely travel to state of Arunachal Presh as y do to any or state of India. Objecting to visit of Indian leers to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people," External Affairs Ministry stated. 

Expect Chinese to work towards LAC issues 'rar than link unrelated issues': India

Notably, MEA spokesperson countered China's self-imposed face-off at Line of Actual Control (LAC) and its 'unilateral attempts' to alter notional demarcation line between two sovereign Asian countries. 

"Furr, as we have mentioned earlier, current situation along LAC in Western Sector of India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of Chinese side to alter status quo in violation of bilateral agreements."

"refore, we expect Chinese side to work towards early resolution of remaining issues along LAC in Eastern Lakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rar than trying to link unrelated issues,” Indian responded to China. 

China 'firmly opposes' VP Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Arunachal Presh

In an opportunity to buttress its stand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian asserted that Arunachal Presh is not recognised as an Indian state by Beijing. Lijian was asked by a Chinese state-affiliated media house to comment on VP Naidu's visit to state.  

spokesperson said,

" Chinese government never recognises so-called Arunachal Presh established unilaterally and illegally by Indian side, and is firmly opposed to Indian leers' visits to area concerned. We urge Indian side to earnestly respect China's major concerns, stop taking any action that would complicate and expand boundary issue and refrain from undermining mutual trust and bilateral relations."

"It should inste take real concrete actions to maintain peace and stability in China-India border areas and help bring bilateral relations back on to track of sound and stey development."

India-China border feud

While India perceives China as illegally occupying 38,000 sq km in Aksai Chin in western sector, China claims up to 90,000 sq km of eastern Arunachal Presh as a part of Tibet. While recent tensions have been focused on Lakh, both militaries also engaged in a face-off in Uttarakhand and recently in Tawang in Arunachal after a face-off near Yangtse. 

VP Naidu visited Arunachal Presh to dress a special session of state assembly.  Vice President said that a visible transformation of norastern states is a clear indication of resurgence in region's pace of development that remained ignored for deces.

China's remarks come at a time when New Delhi and Beijing failed to make any progress in 13th Commander-level talks in resolving year-long standoff in remaining fiction points in eastern Lakh. military standoff erupted in Lakh after a violent clash in Pangong lake area on May 5 last year.