SOURCE: AFI
In a move sparking geopolitical discussions, China recently renamed 30 locations in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a region that Beijing claims as part of its territory. Responding to this provocative action, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called upon the Indian government to consider a tit-for-tat response by releasing 60 geographical names to areas administered by China, particularly in Tibetan regions.
Sarma’s statement came during a press conference held in Guwahati, where he emphasized the need for a strong response to China’s unilateral actions. “My request to the government of India is to release 60 geographical names to the Tibetan area administered by China,” Sarma asserted, underlining the principle of reciprocity in international relations.
Expressing his stance on the matter, Sarma reiterated the significance of a balanced and assertive approach. “It should be tit for tat,” he emphasized, signaling a firm stance against China’s attempts to alter geographical nomenclature in disputed territories. He refrained from delving further into specifics, acknowledging the matter as a policy issue for the Indian government.
The call for a proportional response comes in the wake of India’s categorical rejection of China’s renaming efforts in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian authorities have maintained that such actions hold no legal or diplomatic weight and do not alter the established status of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. By rejecting the validity of the renamed places, India has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the region.
China’s move to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh is seen as part of its ongoing territorial assertiveness in the region, where border disputes between the two nations have long been a point of contention. The renaming exercise is perceived by many as a tactic aimed at bolstering China’s territorial claims and challenging India’s sovereignty.