US Ambassador Juster visits India's Tawang - Deja Vu for China?

US Ambassor to India, Ken Juster, is visiting Tawang, a town in state of Arunachal Presh kwn for its monasteries. Buddhist followers from across globe visit this place of religious importance in thousands, but visit by American envoy seems to have a mess. Amid US-China tre war, and China's objection on Kashmir, attendance by US Ambassor is t just a routine appearance in a region but of a larger mess to Beijing or at least that is what some would argue.

festival kicked off on Monday, October 28

American envoy is on a three day trip to Arunachal to attend Tawang Festival. Organised by Department of Tourism of Arunachal Government, festival kicked off on Monday 28 October and would continue till Thursday 31 October. Started in 2012 festival aims t only to attract tourists but also promote tritions and cultures of state. While place has seen a surge in number of tourists over years, this visit by American Diplomat is beyond realm of tourism.

Arunachal Presh- an integral part of India

Juster who is also joined by Pattie Hoffman- US Consul General in Kolkata, West Bengal is second US envoy to visit eastern region in last three years. In 2016, n US Ambassor to India, Richard Verma attended Tawang Festival attracting sharp reactions from China because of India-China border dispute. India calls Arunachal Presh as an integral part of country but China refuses to recognise it. For China it is a part of South Tibet hence entire region has been a bone of contention between Asian giants who went to war in 1962 for same.

Tawang Festival is held close to what is called McMahon Line- a line of demarcation that acts as an invisible boundary between India and China. During previous visit by US Envoy, China h used strong words to express its dissent calling it an attempt to escalate tensions between countries that might disturb peace in region. It h also accused United States to interfere in border dispute between India and China.

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US Ambassor thanked Kiren Rijiju and CM Pema Khandu

US Ambassor, on or hand, took to Twitter to thank Chief Minister of state Pema Khandu and Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports for “warmly welcoming” him and his “colleagues to Tawang, Arunachal Presh”. He posted mess with #USIndiosti. Mr Khandu too welcomed American Envoy and thanked him for participating in festival.

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Importance of visit

This visit is also important as it comes shortly after informal summit between India and China, where countries attempted to sort ir differences. It is also important as China has objected to India's decision on Kashmir and called it unilateral. On previous occasion, n US Ambassor h visited at backdrop of India-China face-off at UN over Masood Azhar. China h blocked India's move to get Masood Azhar designated a global terrorist by UN Security Council.

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