China’s objection to Amit Shah’s Arunachal visit unreasonable: India
India on Thursday asserted Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and said China’s objection to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state has no reason. China had earlier in the day said it is “firmly opposed” to Shah’s trip as it violates “territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust” of Beijing.
India on Thursday (February 20) asserted Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and said China’s objection to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state has no reason. China, which claims the state to be a part of south Tibet, had earlier in the day said it is “firmly opposed” to Shah’s trip as it violates “territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust” of Beijing.
“India’s consistent position is that Arunachal Pradesh is its integral and inalienable part. Objecting an Indian leader’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh does not stand to reason,” said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson, ministry of external affairs, during a media briefing on Thursday. On February 20, Arunachal Pradesh became full state from union territory.
The home minister is in Arunachal Pradesh to attend the 34th Statehood Day function and inaugurate a number of projects related to industry and roads, officials said. China routinely objects to Indian leaders visits to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh to highlight its claims over it.
Related news: China objects to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh
Earlier in the day, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang had told reporters that the Chinese government has never recognised Arunachal Pradesh as part of India. “China’s position on the eastern sector of the China-India boundary, or the southern part of China’s Tibet region, is consistent and clear,” the spokesperson Geng Shuang told an online media briefing.
“The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian politicians visit to the southern part of China’s Tibet region as it violated China’s territorial sovereignty, undermined stability of the border area, sabotaged political mutual trust, and violated relevant bilateral agreement,” he said.
The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of Southern Tibet and the two countries have so far held 22 rounds of special representatives’ talks to resolve the border dispute.
(With inputs from agencies)
