India dismisses China’s objection to PM Modi’s Arunachal visit

India on Saturday dismissed China’s objection to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern state is an integral and inalienable part of India.

“The state of Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other parts of India,” the Foreign Ministry said in an official statement issued in response to China’s objection.

This consistent position has been conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, the ministry’s statement added.

As PM Modi inaugurated several developmental projects during his one-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh today, China said such actions would “escalate” and “complicate” the border dispute.

China repeatedly slams visits by Indian leaders and foreign dignitaries to the state, which it claims as its own. “China’s position on the Sino-Indian border issue is consistent and clear.

The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and resolutely opposes the activities of Indian leaders to the eastern section of the Sino-Indian border,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in Beijing, according to media reports.