New Delhi: The United States has affirmed its recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and has voiced strong opposition against any unilateral efforts by China to assert territorial claims across the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This assertion was made by State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel.
The statement from the Biden administration comes in response to recent reiterations of China’s claim over the northeastern state. These reaffirmations occurred shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region, during which he inaugurated several development projects.
Earlier this week, the Chinese defense ministry reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangnan.”
“Zangnan is China’s inherent territory, and China never recognises and firmly opposes Bharat’s illegal establishment of the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’,” said spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defence Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang on March 15.
During a daily press briefing on Wednesday (local time), Vedant Patel reiterated the US stance, stating, “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.”
Bharat has consistently rejected China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining that the state is an integral and inalienable part of the country. The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official statement on Tuesday, emphasized that the people of Arunachal Pradesh will “continue to benefit” from Bharat’s development programs and infrastructure projects.
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