China’s claims on Arunachal now among its core interests: US report
India and China might have ended the years-long border standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, but another might be brewing in the years to come. China has made its claims over Arunachal Pradesh as part of its “core interests” alongside Taiwan, according to a recent US Pentagon report. It suggests that the northeastern state is likely to emerge as a major flashpoint in New Delhi-Beijing relations.
The report, which was submitted to the US Congress, mentioned that China’s claims on Arunachal, Taiwan and other territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea were key to achieving the “great rejuvenation” by 2049. As part of the “great rejuvenation” plan, China aims to operate at a higher global level and field a “world-class military” capable of “fight and win” operations, the report said.
India has always maintained that Arunchal “was, is, and will” always be an integral part of the country.
THE ARUNACHAL FLASHPOINT
Last year, India and China reached a deal aimed at the disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. However, after a months-long period of calm, tensions have emerged over Arunachal Pradesh recently.
Last month, an Indian citizen named Prema Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan, was detained for 18 hours during her layover in Shanghai. Thongdok said the Chinese officials claimed her passport was invalid because it mentioned her birthplace as Arunachal Pradesh. She was also denied access to food and other airport facilities.
She eventually managed to resume her journey after she contacted the Indian consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK.
Earlier this week, a YouTuber was detained in China because he mentioned Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India in one of the videos that he made supporting Thongdok.
‘US TAKING NOTE SIGNIFICANT’
Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and calls the region southern Tibet, or Zangnan. This is so because China does not accept the McMahon Line that was drawn by the British in 1914. The border demarcation was agreed upon by Britain and then-independent Tibet.
Of the entire Arunachal, Tawang is of particular importance to China. In fact, previously, China laid claim to only Tawang. Later, it expanded the claim to the entire northeastern state. Since then, China has periodically issued lists of new names for locations in Arunachal to step up its pressure on India.
A former diplomat said the US taking note of China’s tactics in Arunachal Pradesh was significant.
“In the past, the US has been quite extensive in detailing Ladakh-related developments, but has been quiet on Arunachal Pradesh. Now that it has taken cognisance of these moves, it shows that the US is better aware of arm-twisting and other tactics that China deploys with India in Arunachal Pradesh,” Mahesh Sachdev told.
CHINA’S PAKISTAN STRATEGY
The US report had another warning for India. It mentioned that the de-escalation of tensions along the LAC was part of China’s long-term dual strategy – combining tactical calm on the border with sustained military pressure through its all-weather friend Pakistan.
This was widely visible during Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan mostly used Chinese-made weapons during the conflict. That the weapons and air defence system came a cropper is a different matter.
It also said that by maintaining calm along the LAC, China was stabilising ties with India and attempting to prevent Delhi from moving closer to Washington.
