• Wion
  • /World
  • /US states the obvious: 'Arunachal Pradesh is Indian territory '

US states the obvious: 'Arunachal Pradesh is Indian territory '

US states the obvious: 'Arunachal Pradesh is Indian territory '

Screengrab of a video showing tricolour march in Seppa town of Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng

The US on Wednesday (Mar 20) stated it recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and it opposes any unilateral attempts made to advance territorial claims across the Line of Actual Control, in a reference to China.

US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, "The United States recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control."

His remarks come days after the Chinese repeated its claim over the northeast Indian state following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to inaugurate the strategically important Selatunnel there.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

China had been claiming Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and repeated the same in reaction to PM Modi'svisit, only to get a sharp retort from New Delhi.

Communist China lays claim to Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang by stating that the sixth Dalai Lama was born there in the 17th century.

Beijing claims that the birthplaces of all Dalai Lamas historically belong to China.

The People's Republic of China, however, similarly does not claim Mongolia in its entirety despite it being the birthplace of the fourth Dalai Lama.

New Delhi maintains that Beijing's claims do not alter the reality in Arunachal Pradesh.

On Tuesday (Mar19), Indian external affairs ministrysaid that China was "advancing absurd claims" over Arunachal Pradesh and that the northeastern state "was, is, and will always be" an integral part of India.