China has registered a diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh last week, during which he dedicated the recently built Sela Tunnel to the nation. China reaffirmed its claim to the region and stated that India's action would complicate boundary disputes.
At a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that "Zangnan area is Chinese territory" in response to a question about PM Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
"China never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India and firmly opposes it," he said, adding that the China-India boundary matter has yet to be resolved and that India has no authority to "arbitrarily develop" the territory of Zangnan in China.
"Relevant moves by India only complicate the boundary question, China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the leader's visit to the eastern section of the China-India boundary, we have made solemn representations to India," Wang Wenbin said in a statement.
China's response comes after Prime Minister Modi opened the tunnel at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh to give all-weather communication to Tawang, which is strategically positioned. The tunnel is anticipated to also provide improved military mobility within the boundary area.
The Sela Tunnel, which was constructed for Rs 825 crore, would link the West Kameng area of Arunachal Pradesh with Tezpur in Assam. At this altitude, it is purported to be the longest bi-lane road tunnel.
Military officials claim that the Sela Tunnel will facilitate improved troop and weapon transportation to various forward sites along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China as South Tibet, and it is known as Zangnan. China has consistently objected to visits by Indian leaders to accentuate its claims, and India has consistently denied China's claims on Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing's claims and its "invented" names have been rejected by New Delhi, which claims that this does not change the truth. It has declared Arunachal Pradesh to be an essential component of the nation.
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