KKN Gurugram Desk | While India continues to manage rising tensions with Pakistan, a parallel diplomatic confrontation is also unfolding with China. On May 14, 2025, India issued a stern diplomatic response to China’s move to rename multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh, a move widely seen as part of Beijing’s psychological and cartographic warfare strategy.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected the renaming initiative, calling it “futile,” “senseless,” and “meaningless.” The official statement emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is, was, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

What Prompted India’s Reaction? China’s Renaming Campaign

India’s sharp rebuke comes after China released yet another list of renamed locations in Arunachal Pradesh, a northeastern Indian state that Beijing claims as part of “South Tibet.”

The latest list, reportedly issued earlier this week, includes:

• 12 mountains

• 4 rivers

• 1 lake

• 1 mountain pass

• 11 residential areas

• 1 stretch of land

This move is part of a long-standing campaign by China to assert claims over Indian territory through administrative name changes, a strategy known in international affairs as “naming and claiming.”

India’s Official Stand: ‘We Reject Such Moves Completely’

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, delivered a pointed statement during a routine press briefing:

“We have seen that China has continued with its senseless attempt to rename locations in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. In line with our consistent position, we categorically reject such moves.”

He further stated:

“Assigning invented names does not change the reality. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be, an integral part of India.”

This is not the first time India has had to respond to such provocations. The MEA has consistently denied the legitimacy of China’s claims, labeling them as politically motivated and disconnected from ground realities.

China’s History of Renaming Arunachal Pradesh Locations

This ongoing dispute is not new. China has periodically released lists of renamed locations in Arunachal Pradesh:

• 2017: First list with 6 locations

• 2021: Second list with 15 locations

• 2023: Third list with 11 more locations

• 2025: Current list includes 30 additional names

Each of these actions has been met with firm rejection from the Indian government, which views them as symbolic attempts to undermine Indian sovereignty.

Why Arunachal Pradesh Matters to Both Nations

Arunachal Pradesh, located in northeastern India, shares a 1,129 km border with China and has been a long-standing flashpoint in India-China relations.

Beijing refers to the region as “Zangnan” or South Tibet, and has refused to recognize Indian sovereignty over it. India, on the other hand, maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral state, with democratic elections, state institutions, and a vibrant population with strong national identity.

The 1962 India-China war was partially fought in this region, and since then, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has remained a subject of multiple disputes, including recent tensions in Tawang and Yangtse sectors.

Timing of the Tensions: Strategic Distraction or Psychological Warfare?

Experts believe the timing of China’s renaming move is noteworthy. It comes as India is grappling with:

• Cross-border ceasefire violations from Pakistan

• Ongoing counter-terror operations in Kashmir (e.g., Operation Keller)

• General elections and domestic focus

Many strategic analysts interpret this as an attempt to distract Indian diplomacy, test resolve, and project internal control over disputed regions without engaging militarily.

India’s Geopolitical Messaging: One Nation, Firm Stand

India’s statement serves multiple purposes:

1. Asserting Territorial Sovereignty: Reiterating that Arunachal is beyond dispute

2. International Signaling: Showing allies and neighbors India’s firm resolve

3. Domestic Reassurance: Sending a message to citizens in border states about national commitment

India has also strengthened its border infrastructure in recent years, building roads, tunnels (like the Sela Tunnel), and deploying advanced surveillance equipment in Arunachal Pradesh to counter Chinese encroachment attempts.

Responses from Security and Strategic Experts

Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma (Retd.), former GOC-in-C, Northern Command:

“Changing names on maps does not change the ground reality. India has boots, infrastructure, and governance in Arunachal. China’s strategy is about psychological perception, not real control.”

Dr. Brahma Chellaney, Strategic Affairs Analyst:

“This is Beijing’s low-cost, low-risk method of testing international waters. India’s consistent rejection is essential to neutralize such salami-slicing tactics.”

India’s Strong Diplomatic Pattern: Unity on Arunachal

Unlike issues like Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh has seen rare unity across India’s political spectrum:

• Successive governments, from Congress to BJP, have taken the same stand.

• Parliament has often passed resolutions rejecting Chinese claims.

• International partners like the U.S., France, and Japan have also recognized Arunachal as Indian territory in official documents.

China’s Game Plan: What Are They Trying to Achieve?

Beijing’s strategic aims may include:

• Undermining India’s legal claim in global forums

• Provoking military response to justify future actions

• Boosting internal nationalism amid economic or political tensions

• Setting narrative groundwork for future border talks

However, without administrative or military control, such name changes have no practical effect, according to international law and UN maps.

International Law: Name Changes Do Not Define Sovereignty

As per the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) and prevailing international norms:

• Sovereignty is defined by effective administration, legal governance, and recognized borders

• Mere renaming of locations does not establish legal ownership or claim

India, as the de facto and de jure administrator of Arunachal Pradesh, remains legally unchallenged on global platforms.

As India continues to manage complex border dynamics with both Pakistan and China, its response to Beijing’s renaming exercise is a firm, calculated diplomatic signal.

India has clearly communicated that:

• No symbolic gesture can alter geographical and constitutional truths

• Arunachal Pradesh is non-negotiable

• Any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo will be met with strong opposition

This reinforces New Delhi’s zero-tolerance policy on territorial sovereignty, a key pillar of India’s foreign and strategic policy in the 21st century.