NEW DELHI: There is no “slow encroachment” by China into Arunachal Pradesh, new agency ANI reported citing sources on Tuesday. The sources also rejected claims circulating on social media, describing them as “attention-seeking ploys” that lack specific evidence.“There is no slow encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh by China as alleged,” they said.“Due to undemarcated border at times the patrols face off each other, this is resolved through existing mechanisms and protocols in vogue. The Army and ITBP are geared up to dominate the border, monitor and check Chinese activities. Sensational claims like this without going into specifics are attention-seeking ploys,” the report said citing sources.They said China has historically laid claim to Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “South Tibet”. During the 1960 border talks, Beijing had claimed around 69,000 sq km of territory in the state.Also read | ‘Arunachal is integral part of India, nothing can change this,’ says MEA on China’s fresh ‘objections’”China has claims on Arunachal as South Tibet, articulated in 1960 border talks, wherein they claimed approx 69,000 sq km of the state territory. In 1959 China attacked the Assam Rifles outpost at Longju and captured it. The area has since been in adverse possession and is frequently in news due to infra development done in this area by China,” they said.“During 1962 India-China War, major Chinese operations were launched in Kameng, Subansiri, Siyom, Siang and Lohit valleys. However, after ceasefire the PLA went back North of the LAC. Arunachal Pradesh shares a large border with Tibet along Great Himalayan range. Concerted infra push in recent years has enabled enhanced ptlg and surveillance of the area,” they added.
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The report comes after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an “inalienable and integral part of India”, referring to the recent “objection” by China over renaming places in the state.“Let me reiterate this once again that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable and integral part of India and this is a fact that is self-evident. At the same time, let me also underline that nothing can change this indisputable reality,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.India officially identified 27 locations in Arunachal by their standard names on the survey of India map, countering China’s repeated attempts to assign Chinese names to places in the state.
