India Slams China’s Naming Tactics In Arunachal, Flags Hydropower Concerns On Brahmaputra

India on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuke to China over its repeated attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, firmly reiterating that the state remains an integral part of the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a strong statement in response to media queries, dismissing Beijing’s latest actions as futile and misleading.

“We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the statement noted.

This reaction comes after China reportedly issued its fourth such list in April, renaming 30 locations within Arunachal Pradesh – a move India views as a clear challenge to its sovereignty.

Reacting to the development, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu condemned China’s move in a post on social media, calling it ‘another gimmick’.

“Another gimmick from China. Being a proud citizen of Bharat and a native of Arunachal Pradesh, I strongly condemn this act of naming places within Arunachal Pradesh, which have been an inalienable integral part of India. Proud citizens and patriots of Arunachal Pradesh are rejecting such antics,” he said.

India has consistently opposed these renaming attempts in the past as well, with the MEA reiterating its stance that such actions do not alter ground realities.

“We firmly reject such attempts. Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India,” the MEA stated.

Concerns Over China’s Hydropower Projects

Meanwhile, concerns have resurfaced in India over China’s hydropower activities upstream in Tibet.

In December 2024, China, however, approved the construction of a major hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which enters India as the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue at a media briefing, saying, “We have seen the information released by Xinhua on 25th December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory.”

India remains watchful of upstream developments and their potential impact on water flow and availability downstream.

China had previously proposed three hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra during its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015), with the first project at Jiacha becoming operational in August 2020.

Its 14th Five-Year Plan, adopted in March 2021, reaffirmed plans for further development along the river’s lower reaches, raising fresh strategic and ecological concerns for India.

The Indian government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national interests and said it would continue raising such issues with China through all appropriate diplomatic channels.

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