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China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has once again inflamed tensions with India by renaming 30 locations within the disputed border state of Arunachal Pradesh. Referred to by China as "Zangnan," the region is claimed by Beijing as part of its Tibetan autonomous region. India has repeatedly rejected these claims and considers Arunachal Pradesh an inseparable part of its nation.
The "standardized" names, published in Chinese characters, Tibetan script, and the Mandarin Romanization system pinyin, encompass a mix of residential areas, mountains, rivers, and a lake. This move follows a similar renaming exercise in December 2021 when China assigned new names to 15 Arunachal Pradesh locations. India's Ministry of External Affairs swiftly dismissed the attempts as based on "invented" names.
"China's renaming strategy is a clear attempt to legitimize unsubstantiated territorial claims," says Dr. Vikram Ahuja, a geopolitical analyst specializing in Sino-Indian relations. "While largely symbolic, it signals Beijing's continued intent to pressure India on the border issue."
The India-China border conflict, centered on Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region, is a long-standing dispute with periodic flare-ups. China's recent renaming campaign is likely to be viewed within the context of heightened geopolitical competition between the two regional powers.
India is expected to issue a strong condemnation of China's action, which is likely to further complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial standoff. This latest chapter in the border dispute reflects the deeply entrenched disagreements and lack of trust that continue to undermine relations between the two Asian giants.
