The names were released on Sunday by China’s ministry of civil affairs in Chinese, Tibetan and Pinyin. This is in accordance with regulations on geographical names issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, state mouthpiece Global Times reported Monday.
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Government sources in Delhi said this wasn’t the first time China had carried out such an exercise and that assigning manufactured names won’t change the situation on the ground. “Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will continue to be an integral part of India,” said a source.
The development also comes weeks before a likely visit by the Chinese defence minister for a meeting of the SCO, the Eurasian group where India currently holds the presidency. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to visit India for the SCO summit in July.
The list specifies precise coordinates, including two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks and two rivers. Categories of places, names and their subordinate administrative districts have also been mentioned. “This is the third batch of standardised geographical names in Zangnan issued by the ministry. The first batch of six places was released in 2017 and the second of 15 places in 2021,” Global Times added.
