China objects to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh

GUWAHATI: China is unhappy with Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah is attending the 34th Statehood Day Function of Arunachal Pradesh in Itanagar.

Calling this visit a violation of "territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust,” China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, “China's position on the eastern sector of the China-India boundary, or the southern part of China's Tibet region, is consistent and clear.”

"The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' and is firmly opposed to the Indian politician's visit to the southern part of China's Tibet region as it violated China's territorial sovereignty, undermined stability of the border area, sabotaged political mutual trust, and violated relevant bilateral agreement," he added.

He urged the Indian side to stop complicating this issue further.

China which considers Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet has been involved in a longstanding territorial dispute with India over Arunachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Pema Khandu tweeted:

https://twitter.com/PemaKhanduBJP/status/1230339599374766086

When Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the border area of Tawang recently for the Maitree Divas celebration to boost civil-military friendship, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said in Beijing: “The Chinese government never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh.”

China considers Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet.

The over 70-day Doklam standoff between the troops of India and China took place in 2017 in Doklam trijunction of Bhutan-India-China.

The stand-off took place after China attempted to extend a road in the Doklam area, to which the Indian personnel objected.

BJP member Tapir Gao had warned the government of Chinese interference in the region.

“I request the House and media to voice protest against this,” he had told the Lok Sabha last year.

“If a repeat of Doklam takes place, it will happen in Arunachal Pradesh because China has encroached 50-60 km area of the State,” he said, urging the government to take necessary steps.