China slams India's 'unilateral act' in border naming dispute

India has officially designated standard place names for 27 geographical features, including mountain passes, lakes, and villages, in Arunachal Pradesh, a northeastern state claimed by China. This move, announced on August 7, has reignited a long-standing territorial dispute between the two Asian giants.

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The Indian move is a unilateral act that exacerbates border issues.

The Indian government stated that the designations aim to "enhance the public's awareness of the accurate identification of locations and their geographical and historical significance." However, Indian media interpreted the announcement as a direct response to China's repeated attempts to change the names of areas in Arunachal Pradesh, framing it as a "map war."

China, which refers to Arunachal Pradesh as 'Zangnan' (South Tibet), vehemently condemned India's action. Chinese experts called it a "unilateral act" that worsens border issues and is based on "fictitious names." Guo Xutang, a professor at Shanghai International Studies University, argued that the region is historically, culturally, and religiously connected to Tibet and that India's move is "self-deceptive."

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The naming of places in the Zangnan region is not only legally unfounded but also culturally and historically connected with Tibet.

This latest spat comes just days after India and China held their 36th Border Affairs Consultation and Coordination Mechanism meeting in New Delhi. The two nations have been trying to mend relations and maintain peace along their roughly 3,500-kilometer border, even reopening a key trade pass after a six-year closure. However, the naming dispute underscores that territorial issues remain a significant point of contention, potentially derailing efforts toward normalization.

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The unilateral change of place names cannot shake China's resolve to safeguard its territory and sovereignty.