China's 'renaming' of places in Arunachal leaves India combating along 2 borders

China’s latest decision to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh assumes wider significance with regard to messaging, considering the timing of the move that is likely to have bearing on efforts to improve bilateral ties from both sides.

The move coincides with India’s recent initiatives to reaffirm its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh by promoting places China is eyeing.

Cabinet meet near LAC

Moreover, the fifth renaming exercise has an added ramification as it coincides with the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan in the western front, deepening India’s need to prepare for two-front confrontations.

The BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (May 13) held a “special” cabinet meeting at Anjaw district’s Kaho, a Meyor village on the banks of River Lohit, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The meeting was part of the special attention both the state and the Union governments are giving to the bordering villages in the recent past. It was recently billed as the country’s first 'vibrant village'.

Also Read: India rejects China's bid to rename places in Arunachal as 'preposterous'

Significance of Vivekananda statue

The special meeting was held to mark the unveiling of a statue of Swami Vivekananda at the village to underpin India’s commitment to national integration in the border areas of the north-eastern state.

“To have Swamiji’s statue at Kaho is not just a tribute; it’s a profound statement. It signifies that the message of strength, service, and spiritual awakening reaches the very last mile of Bharat. Kaho, nestled at the border, now echoes Swamiji’s timeless call — arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached,” Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced in a social media post.

“This statue will serve as a guiding light for generations, reminding us that true patriotism begins with upliftment of our villages, our people, and our values,” he added.

Kaho is among the numerous places in Arunachal Pradesh that Beijing has staked claim by assigning Chinese names to them.

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UNESCO heritage tag

Much to Beijing’s chagrin, the Arunachal Pradesh government has also of late heightened its effort to get UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Thembang, an ancient village believed to have been established in the first century AD.

Chinese interest in the village stems from its historical significance and strategic location. The village, which was an important centre of the trans-Himalayan trade route, was the site of a fierce battle in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

It has a unique 12th-century fort constructed using traditional Monpa architecture, making it a strong claimant for the UNESCO World Heritage site.

International rebuff

To bolster its claim, a Local Consultative Committee (LCC), formed to push for the coveted status, held a meeting at Dirang on Tuesday (April 13) to strengthen coordination among stakeholders involved in the heritage conservation initiative.

Dirang is the sub-divisional headquarters of the West Kameng District under which the village falls.

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“The UNESCO status for the oldest village in the region will be an international rebuff not only to China’s claim over it but also nearly 90000 sq kms of areas in Arunachal Pradesh that Beijing calls Zangnan or south Tibet,” said Kh Kabi, who teaches in Itanagar’s Rajiv Gandhi University.

Chief Minister Khandu further made a huge statement to China by flagging off a Tiranga Yatra in the state’s border town of Walong on Tuesday to commemorate the success of the Indian armed forces in Operation Sindoor, observed Kabi.

X accounts blocked

In another related development, India on Wednesday (May 14) banned the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of the Chinese media outlets affiliated to the country’s ruling dispensation, Global Times and Xinhua News, for allegedly pushing anti-India disinformation.

The Civil Affairs Ministry of China on May 11 published its latest names for 27 locations in the northeastern state.

The locations include 15 mountains, four passes, two rivers, a lake, and five inhabited areas, reports the South China Morning Post. It is not yet clear which are the places China went on to rechristen this time.

The development might cast shadow on the cautious progress made by the two countries in improving relations following the end of over four-year long military standoff along LAC in Eastern Ladakh in October last year, Professor Kabi observed.