Arunachal Pradesh part of India, not China: US Senate panel

A US Congressional Senatorial Committee has passed a resolution recognising the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India and Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

The resolution was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Bill Hagerty, Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen on Thursday (July 13).

The resolution came amid Chinese claims over large portions of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory, which is a part of Beijing’s increasingly aggressive and expansionist policies, a media statement said.

The resolution will go to the Senate floor for a full vote.

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“America’s values supporting freedom and a rules-based order must be at the center of all of our actions and relationships around the world — especially as the PRC government pushes an alternative vision,” said Senator Merkley, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China.

The passage of this resolution affirms that Washington considers Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing says is Southern Tibet, not a part of China and commits the US to deepen support and assistance to the region, he said.

US solidarity

Hagerty said at a time when China continues to pose “grave and gathering threats to the free and open Indo-Pacific”, it was critical for the US to stand with its India and other Quad countries.

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As tensions between India and China escalate over their shared border, the US must stand strong in “our defense of democracy by supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific”, said Senator Cornyn.

India and China fought a bitter border in 1962. They continue to dispute ownership of territory along their winding frontier.

(With agency inputs)