Beijing, The longstanding territorial dispute between China and India has intensified following China’s renewed assertion over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as an integral part of its territory. This development comes on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region, an action that elicited strong objections from China and reaffirmed the contested area’s strategic and diplomatic significance.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Chinese defense ministry’s Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang vocally reaffirmed China’s claim to Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as South Tibet. The dispute over this territory has been a recurring source of tension between the two Asian giants, with both sides maintaining a firm stance on their respective territorial sovereignty.

The controversy gained new momentum following Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh for the inauguration of the Sela Tunnel, a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing border connectivity and military logistics. China criticized the visit and the tunnel’s construction, given the region’s disputed status and strategic importance in the Sino-Indian border dynamics.

In response, India’s External Affairs Ministry, through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated the nation’s position that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of India. The ministry dismissed China’s objections, emphasizing that such claims do not change the ground realities of Arunachal Pradesh’s governance and affiliation with India.

This latest episode underscores the deep-rooted and complex nature of the border dispute between China and India, with potential implications for regional stability and bilateral relations. As both nations continue to assert their claims, the international community watches closely for any developments that might affect peace and security in the region.