China renames six towns in Arunachal

Chinese government on April 14 released standardised Chinese names of six towns in the north-eastern state.

Renamed towns

The ministry of civil affairs in Beijing issued an order on April 14 the official names of the six places using the Roman alphabet are Wo’gyainling, Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri, Mainquka, Bumo La and Namkapub Ri.
It did not give the existing names of the six towns in Arunachal Pradesh.
Bumo La could be BumLa, an area that was captured by China in 1962 but from which it later withdrew.
China had used a similar ploy naming islands in South China Sea or pulling out ancient records showing old Chinese names of islands to support its claims over the sea areas, and fight back similar claims from other countries including Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines.
China also began announcing weather forecasts of the disputed area to prove that they are part of Chinese territory.
The new names will be shown in the international diplomatic arena as proof of China’s claims.

India’s stand

India seen it as move to claim the region that is illegally occupied by China
Renaming or inventing names of states of your neighbour does not make illegal occupation legal.
The Chinese move is seen as a retaliation to India allowing exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to visit Arunachal Pradesh.
India has, in recent months, boosted the defences in Arunachal Pradesh.

History of Dalai Lama issue

The Dalai Lama is the traditional religious head of Tibetan Buddhists. He was made head of state in 1950.
In same year that Chinese troops occupied Tibet and later in 1959, he fled Tibet for exile in India.
The Dalai Lama is a celebrated figure across the globe but in China, he is a despised troublemaker.
He advocate an autonomy that would allow Tibetans to maintain their cultural, language and religion under China’s rule.
So the China considered him as a separatist in the Tibetan region.
They were not interested in seeing the world treated him as a VIP.

GS II : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

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