China has once again asserted its territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh by publishing a new list of “standardized” geographical names for 27 locations in the contested region. The names — covering a variety of features such as mountains, rivers, residential areas, and passes — have ignited a new round of tensions with India, which controls the area.
The newly renamed locations, which include 15 mountains, four mountain passes, five residential areas, and two rivers, are located within Indian-administered Arunachal Pradesh. China refers to the region as Zangnan, claiming it as part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, an assertion that India rejects. The names were published in Chinese characters, Tibetan, and pinyin (romanized Mandarin), and included detailed geographical coordinates and high-resolution maps.
A statement from China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs explained that the renaming was carried out “in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State Council” to standardize geographical names in the region, which is also referred to by Beijing as South Tibet.
However, the move has been met with fierce resistance from India. India’s Ministry of External Affairs immediately dismissed the renaming as “vain and preposterous,” reaffirming its territorial integrity. “Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the Indian government said in a statement.
This latest act by China adds to a history of tensions between the two nations over the border region. The dispute dates back to the British colonial era when the McMahon Line was drawn, dividing the territory between India and China. While India recognizes the McMahon Line as the official border, China disputes it, claiming parts of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.
The renaming of locations marks the fifth time China has issued such a list for Arunachal Pradesh, with previous attempts in 2017, 2021, 2023, and most recently in March 2024. India has consistently rejected these efforts, with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar calling the renaming an “attempt to alter reality.” In 2021, India’s Ministry of External Affairs branded the actions as “senseless” and accused China of “inventing” names for places that are, in India’s view, firmly part of its sovereign territory.
The timing of the renaming could undermine recent diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between China and India. After a deadly border clash in 2020 in the Galwan Valley, in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed, relations between the two nations soured significantly. However, over the past year, both countries have made attempts to reset ties. These included agreeing to end their military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and engaging in regular diplomatic talks. In January, officials from both sides committed to improving bilateral relations, including agreements on easing visa processes and restarting direct flights.
Despite these efforts, Beijing’s latest move on Arunachal Pradesh casts a shadow over the ongoing dialogue. The region remains a flashpoint in the larger India-China rivalry, with both countries asserting competing claims over the land.
In response to China’s repeated renaming attempts, there have been reports that India’s military has taken countermeasures. In June 2023, Indian media reported that the Indian Army’s Information Warfare Division had begun renaming locations in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region in retaliation. However, no official list of these names has been released, and there have been no further developments on that front.
This ongoing territorial dispute comes amid broader geopolitical shifts in Asia, where both China and India are increasingly vying for regional influence. The two countries’ military competition, especially along their shared border, has wider implications for the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region.
As both China and India continue to modernize their militaries and assert their territorial claims, the risk of further escalation remains. For now, the renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted tensions that continue to challenge bilateral relations between the two Asian giants.
