This week, China stirred the pot yet again by renaming 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
The territory is firmly administered by India, but long claimed by Beijing as “Zangnan,” or South Tibet.
From mountains and rivers to lakes and tiny villages, each spot got a fresh Chinese identity in three scripts.
Full coordinates and glossy maps to match.
China insists it’s just standard housekeeping.
“We’ve simply standardized place names in Zangnan,” its Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
What’s India’s Response?
“Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality,” snapped India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
“Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.”
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have simmered since their deadly 2020 clash in Ladakh.
Despite recent signs of thaw—talks, reopened pilgrimage sites, and relaxed visa rules.
This latest move could undo the fragile progress.
This marks China’s fifth round of renaming since 2017.
India, for its part, reportedly toyed with flipping the script by renaming sites in Tibet—but never followed through.
As Indian minister Jaishankar quipped, “If I change the name of your house, does it become mine?”
Maybe not—but it sure keeps the neighborhood on edge.
