New Delhi: India has made important changes in the official map of Arunachal Pradesh. In the updated map of Survey of India, 27 places of strategic and historical importance near the verge with China have been formally recorded. These include four mountain passes, a upper upland lake area, 21 geographical locations and a memorial related to the 1962 war. The move comes at a time when India is going to host the BRICS summit in September and Chinese President Xi Jinping is moreover expected to shepherd it.
What has been reverted in the map?
Four passes namely Djo La, Riza La, Pukur La and Thag La have been included in the updated map. Apart from this, Sambhon Sarovar has moreover been recorded with its Indian name. The 21 other locations include areas including Longju, Jairampur, Jaswantgarh, Padma, Baisakhi, Shivaji Nagar and Kamlangnagar. Sher-e-Thapa Memorial has moreover been given a place on the map.
Why are Thag La and Longju so important?
Some of the places included in the map are directly linked to past military confrontations withal the India-China border. Thag La is an zone associated with the initial phase of the India-China war of 1962. The name of Longju is associated with the India-China verge mismatch that took place in 1959. Getting formal recognition of these places in the government maps ways that now they will not be limited to military maps but will moreover be unmistakably recorded in the official map of India.
Has India made any new changes in its border?
This step is not stuff seen as a fresh drawing of the border. India once considers Arunachal Pradesh its integral part and has been rejecting China's claim. The main objective of the changes made to the map is to formalise the identification and names of these places under the current Indian situation. That ways no new changes have been made in the verge on the ground.
Why is this step important for China?
There has been a long standing dispute between India and China regarding Arunachal Pradesh. China claims this unshortened state as South Tibet and has been issuing its own names for many places there. Beijing had tried to transpiration the names of several places in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017, 2021 and 2023, which India rejected each time. Formally recording Indian names in the new Indian map is considered important tween this controversy.
Why was this step taken plane surpassing BRICS?
The time of transpiration in the map is moreover special. India will host the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 and Xi Jinping is likely to shepherd it. Earlier on August 6, the 36th WMCC meeting on verge matters between officials of India and China was moreover held in New Delhi. Talks are going on between the two countries, but the cadre issue of the verge dispute is still not resolved. In such a situation, giving formal place to sensitive areas in the map is considered important from both diplomatic and strategic point of view.
Has China reacted to India's move?
China's reaction to the transpiration in India's map has moreover come to light. Chinese state media criticised India's move, saying it could complicate verge talks. Beijing has been presenting Arunachal Pradesh as its personal territory. On the other hand, India has been continuously clarifying that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and waffly the names of places by any other country does not transpiration the ground situation.
