India Rejects China’s Renaming of Arunachal Pradesh Locations

On 14th May, 2025, India strongly rejected China’s latest move to rename 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that the state remains an inalienable part of the country.

Key Points

Repeated Provocation: China’s Civil Aviation Ministry released a fifth list of renamed locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as “Zangnan.”
India’s Response: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the move as “vain and preposterous,” asserting it has no bearing on India’s sovereignty.
Historical Consistency: India reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always remain” an integral part of the nation.
Naming Pattern: China began this renaming practice in 2017, with subsequent lists in 2021, 2023, and 2024, naming mountains, rivers, residential areas, and other sites.
Strategic Context: The naming exercise comes amid ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in India’s northeast.