Tensions have flared once again between India and China as India's government registers a "vigorous protest" through diplomatic channels following China's publication of an official map that lays claim to a portion of Indian territory as its own.
In its newly released 2023 edition of the "standard map," China has marked India's northeastern region of Arunachal Pradesh, a long-standing point of contention, as Chinese territory, asserting it as part of Tibet. In response, India's external affairs ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, issued a statement on Tuesday evening expressing India's unequivocal rejection of these claims, emphasizing their lack of any factual basis. Bagchi pointed out, "Such actions undertaken by the Chinese authorities only serve to further complicate the already delicate boundary issue."
The India-China border dispute has remained a persistent concern. In 2020, tensions erupted into violence when Indian and Chinese troops clashed along their disputed eastern Ladakh border, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 24 lives. A separate skirmish occurred in December 2022 in the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh, where soldiers on both sides sustained minor injuries.
The longstanding territorial dispute between the two Asian giants remains a complex and sensitive issue. India's latest protest against China's updated map underscores the ongoing challenges in resolving this matter and the need for continued diplomatic efforts to maintain stability in the region.