China rejects India's naming of 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh

China has rejected India's decision to formally record 27 locations and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh under standard Indian names, labeling the move “illegal, null and void.” Beijing maintains that the region, which it refers to as Zangnan or “south Tibet,” belongs to China and asserts that attempts to rename sites cannot alter its sovereignty claims.

India's Survey of India conducted the exercise to remove ambiguity in geographical references and ensure consistency in official maps, administrative coordination, and infrastructure planning. The 27 named sites include Longju, Jaswant Garh, Kamlang Nagar, Sunpura, and Pritnagar, as well as various passes and lakes. The Indian government has reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.”

The dispute stems from long-standing disagreements over the border, with India relying on the McMahon Line established in 1914, a boundary China does not recognize. This latest tension follows a pattern of reciprocal naming exercises, with China having standardized various names in the region since 2017.