China may repeat 'baseless claims': India reiterates firm stand on Arunachal

China may repeat ‘baseless claims’: India reiterates firm stand on Arunachal

As China continues to claim Arunachal Pradesh as an “inherent part” of the country, India on Thursday said that Beijing may “repeat its baseless claims”, adding that it did not change New Delhi’s position that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always remain” an integral and inalienable part of the country.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks in a press briefing days after China referred to Arunachal Pradesh as an “inherent part of China’s territory” following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Our position on the matter, Arunachal Pradesh, has been made very clear, time and again. Recently also, we issued a statement in this regard. China may repeat its baseless claims as many times as they want, but that is not going to change our position. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the MEA spokesperson said.

After PM Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh on March 9, China lodged a diplomatic protest and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated “China never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India and firmly opposes it”.

Calling it “absurd”, the Indian government had then said, “Repeating baseless arguments in this regard [by China] does not lend such claims any validity.”

Meanwhile, top diplomats from India and China held a fresh round of talks in Beijing on March 27. According to the MEA, both sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve “complete disengagement” and agreed to “maintain regular contact” through diplomatic and military channels, with no indication of any breakthrough.