China's recent announcement of renaming 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese territory has triggered a response from the United States. The White House has stated that it recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and opposes any unilateral attempts by China to advance territorial claims through renaming localities.
On Sunday, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs released official names for the 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh that it claims as the southern part of Tibet. This is the third time China has unilaterally renamed places in the region, having done so in April 2017 and December 2021. The renamed places include mountain peaks, rivers, and residential areas.
India has rejected China's claims, stating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and that assigning invented names does not alter this reality. The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly asserted that the state belongs to India and that China's attempt to rename it is unacceptable.
China's renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh comes amid a border dispute between China and India in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020. In response, India has increased its military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in the Arunachal Pradesh sector.
