The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has delivered a strong and unequivocal rebuttal to China's renewed territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the northeastern state is an "integral and inalienable" part of the country.
The firm statement by the MEA, delivered by spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, comes in the wake of a diplomatic row triggered by the alleged arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh at the Shanghai International Airport.
India's Firm Stance
Reiterating India's longstanding and principled position, the MEA spokesperson stressed that China's denial cannot alter the established reality.
"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality," the spokesperson asserted.
The diplomatic friction escalated following the incident involving a UK-based Indian national, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, who was allegedly detained for nearly 18 hours during a transit in Shanghai. Chinese immigration officials reportedly refused to acknowledge her valid Indian passport because her birthplace was listed as Arunachal Pradesh, a region China refers to as "Zangnan."
Violation of International Norms
The Ministry confirmed that New Delhi has taken up the matter with Beijing "strongly," highlighting that the Chinese authorities' actions were in direct violation of several conventions governing international air travel. Furthermore, the MEA pointed out that the detention also contradicted China's own regulations, which allow for up to 24 hours of visa-free transit for nationals of all countries.
The Indian government had previously lodged a formal diplomatic protest, known as a demarche, with the Chinese side in both Beijing and New Delhi. Indian officials emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is "indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports."
China Defends Actions and Claims
In response, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, denied allegations of detention or harassment, stating that border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures "in accordance with laws and regulations." However, Mao Ning also reiterated China's territorial claim, asserting, "Zangnan is China's territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India."
The incident has once again brought the long-standing boundary dispute to the forefront, risking an undermining of the fragile détente between the two countries, who had recently been working towards stabilizing bilateral ties.
