In the midst of a simmering border dispute, China and India ratcheted up the rhetoric on Wednesday, trading barbs over competing territorial claims.
China objected to Vice President (VP) Venkaiah Naidu recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, saying it is firmly opposed to the Indian leader’s visit because the state has never been recognised by China.
“China’s position on the boundary issue is consistent and clear. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh established unilaterally and illegally by the Indian side and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader’s visit to the area concerned,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing said.
On 9 October, Venkaiah Naidu addressed a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh state assembly, saying that the visible transformation of the northeast is clear evidence of a resurgence in the region’s pace of development, which had been neglected for decades.
Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, responded to a media query about Lijian’s remarks, saying: “We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.”
He stated that Indian leaders travel to Arunachal Pradesh on a regular basis, just like they do to any other state in India. “Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people,” he said.
India and China have been engaged in border dispute for the last 17 months.
Last week, India and China military talks to end border dispute failed.
“The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas,” the Indian Army had said in a statement.
Since the border dispute, 13 rounds of India-China Corps Commander Level Meetings have taken place.
