AAPSU flays Chinese statement on Arunachal as ' South Tibet'

ITANAGAR: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) on Monday condemned Chinese Foreign ministry for the statement dubbing the north-eastern State as "South Tibet".

The people of the State out rightly reject the dubious statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry dubbing our state as 'South Tibet'. We strongly condemn such statements and advise the Chinese Government to refrain from such notoriety, the union said in a statement here. China on Monday shrugged off the Indian army's concern over five missing civilians in Arunachal Pradesh, saying Beijing has never recognised the state which it claims is part of south Tibet.

The Indian army had asked China over the weekend whether the missing Indians were in the custody of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). "China's position on the eastern section of the China and India boundary and China's southern Tibet is consistent and clear. We have never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established on the Chinese territory," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian said at the regular ministry briefing.

Anguished over the statement, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang and General Secretary Tabom Dai in a joint statement said, "People of Arunachal Pradesh are proud Indians and staunch nationalist. We don't need any recognition or validation from a foreign entity. Instead of issuing misleading statements, the Chinese government should direct its armed forces to immediately release five civilians from Nacho area in Upper Subansiri district who, were abducted by PLA personnel recently."

"Denials by our own government on earlier occasions followed by weak response to such recurring advances have greatly emboldened the Chinese forces. Safety and security of lives and property of people living in border areas should be ensured at all costs," the apex students' body of the State said. "There should be strong deterrent against such recurring mischief along the LAC," the statement added.

Also Watch: #NewsMakers: Doctors Speak on Rising COVID cases in Assam and Unlock 4.0