US Says Arunachal Belongs To India In Snub To China: Know Why China Claims The State As South Tibet

A Congressional Senatorial Committee in the United States has passed a resolution recognising Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

Senator Jeff Merkley posted took to Twitter to post the newest development. "U.S. views the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India¡ªnot the People¡¯s Republic of China¡ªand commits the U.S. to deepening support and assistance to the region, alongside like-minded international partners."

McMahon line as international boundary

The resolution was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Bill Hagerty, Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen on Thursday.

UPDATE: This bipartisan resolution passed in Committee today! https://t.co/SowLNN6ase

¡ª Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) July 13, 2023

This resolution reaffirmed US recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between the People¡¯s Republic of China (PRC) and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It will now go to the Senate floor for a full vote.

The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Modi's state visit to the US, where he met President Joe Biden and held talks with various key US diplomats.

Senator Cornyn told PTI, "As tensions between India and China escalate over their shared border, the United States must stand strong in our defence of democracy by supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific."

China's aggressive expansionist policy

In April this year, Chinese government had released a list of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh in order to "standardise" their names. Along with this, a map was released that showed parts of Arunachal Pradesh to be within the Southern Tibet region, which China refers to as Zangnan.

Tawang/ BCCL (Representational Image)

This is the third such list attempting to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, the earlier ones released in 2017 and 2021.

India has continually objected to such lists.

Rejecting such claims, India has said Beijing could not alter the status of places in the northeastern state.

On the other hand, Beijing believes such actions are within China's "sovereign rights".

History behind the conflict

China and India share a disputed 3,440km (2,100 mile) long de facto border - called the Line of Actual Control or LAC.

The McMahon line, which India recognises as its boundary, is not accepted by the Chinese.

McMahon Line/ BCCL

China believes that the McMahon Line, which was part of the 1914 Simla Convention signed between British India and Tibet, was signed without China's agreement and that Tibet was not independent when this agreement was signed.

As a result, China continues to stake claim to the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it "South Tibet". Soldiers on either side often clash along the border in Tawang City of Arunachal Pradesh.

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