China condemns India’s naming of Arunachal peak after Dalai Lama as illegal

Beijing: China expressed its displeasure on Thursday after Indian mountaineers named an unnamed peak in Arunachal Pradesh after the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, renewing its territorial claims over the region.

A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), which operates under the Ministry of Defence, scaled the previously unclimbed 20,942 ft peak. They chose to name the summit after the 6th Dalai Lama, who was born in Mon Tawang in 1682. According to a Defence Ministry press release, the naming of the peak was meant as a tribute to the 6th Dalai Lama’s "timeless wisdom" and his contributions to the Monpa community and beyond.

China asserts claims over Arunachal Pradesh

Reacting to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded during a media briefing, stating, "I'm not aware of what you mentioned." He reiterated China’s position by adding, “The area of Zangnan is Chinese territory, and it's illegal, and null and void for India to set up the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ in Chinese territory. This has been China's consistent position.”

China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan and has, since 2017, renamed places in the region to emphasize its territorial claims.

India rejects China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh

India has firmly rejected China’s stance on Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the region is an integral part of India. The Indian government has repeatedly emphasized that assigning "invented" names to places does not change the reality of India's sovereignty over the area. PTI.