China releases map claiming parts of Arunachal Pradesh

Barely 10 days before Chinese Premier Xi Jinping is expected to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Beijing has once again raked up the issue of its territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, the Eastern most state of the nation.

This is Beijing’s third list on Arunachal Pradesh, attempting to “rename” places which it terms as “standardised geographical names”.

In 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Civilian Affairs put out a similar list of six places, and in December 2021, released a list of 15 places that it sought to rename.

If reports are to be believed, the 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Pasighat MLA and Congress leader Ninong Ering, who has been vocal against China’s claims over areas in the frontier state spoke exclusively to Northeast Live.

Sharing his thoughts, Ering said, “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. We vehemently condemn what the Chinese, PLA has been doing. I am also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Association against China, I have always raised My voice against the construction of dams (by China), construction of the infrastructure along the border.”

When asked if China was deliberately making such claims ahead of the G20 meet to be held in Delhi, Ninong Ering said, “It is completely right. They are trying to provoke the Government of India and especially our Prime Minister to make some mistake when he goes for the G20 Summit. But, to be very frank the World has accepted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. China has always been trying to provoke us.”

“We have full faith on the Government of India. I am from the Congress, but let me be very frank, it is not a question of party or allegations or counter-allegations. But what I think is that the GoI is completely protecting us. I may be from the Congress but the way our PM Narendra Modi is asking all the ministers to visit Arunachal Pradesh, that itself signifies that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India,” Ering added.