- The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released the fourth list of standardised geographical names in Zangnan (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh).
- China has released the names of 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh.
- In April 2023, India reacted sharply when China released the third list of names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The central government asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
Why does China claim Arunachal Pradesh
- China claims the entire Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet”. It is called “Zangnan” in the Chinese language.
- China’s main interest is in the district of Tawang, which is in the north-western region of Arunachal and borders Bhutan and Tibet
- Tawang is a critical point in the corridor between Tibet and Brahmaputra Valley.
- Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) is the world’s second-largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.
- China claimed that this monastery in Tawang district proved that the district was part of Tibet.
- The McMahon Line separates Tibet from India in the eastern sector.