China opposes PM's Arunachal visit, India holds its stand, hits back strongly

New Delhi: India's ministry of external affairs reacted sharply after Chinese government "firmly opposed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the sensitive boarder state, Arunachal Pradesh.

Taking its stand strongly India reverted back to the China government saying the state of Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable part" of India and this position has been conveyed to the Chinese side multiple times.

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Denouncing PM Modi's visit, China, on Saturday, asserted that it has never recognized the sensitive border state and the Indian leadership should refrain from any action that may "complicate the boundary question".

Ministry of External Affairs, however, said in a statement, "Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other parts of India. This consistent position has been conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions."

Prime Minister Modi is in the North-East region on his two-day visit to multiple states to address public rallies and inaugurate and lay foundation stone of many projects.

In Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday, Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore and said his government was giving a lot of importance to improve connectivity in the border state.

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Modi said his government was giving importance to improve the highway, railway, airway and power situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected by the previous governments.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying responsed to a question on Modi's visit, "China's position on the China-India boundary question is consistent and clear-cut. The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader's visit to the East Section of the China-India boundary."

“China urges the Indian side to bear in mind the common interests of the two countries, respect the interests and concerns of the Chinese side, cherish the momentum of improvement in bilateral relations, and refrain from any action that may lead to the escalation of disputes or complicate the boundary question," Hua posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.

China claims the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet. India and China, however, have held 21 rounds of talks so far to resolve the border dispute. China consistently objects Indian leaders visit to the region to emphasis its stand.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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