The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs has unveiled its fourth list of standardized geographical names for Zangnan, the Chinese term for Arunachal Pradesh, a region that Beijing asserts as part of south Tibet, reported the state-run Global Times on Sunday.
This release comes amidst heightened assertions by Beijing in recent weeks, reiterating its claim over the Indian state.
The ministry’s official website posted 30 new names for various locations within the region, with the implementation slated to commence on May 1. Article 13 of the implementation measures stipulates that names in foreign languages that may impinge upon China’s territorial claims and sovereignty rights should not be directly quoted or translated without authorization.
This marks the fourth such list released by the Chinese Civil Affairs Ministry, following the initial list of six places in Zangnan in 2017, a subsequent list of 15 places in 2021, and another with 11 names in 2023.
China’s recent statements affirming its claims over Arunachal Pradesh began with a diplomatic protest lodged against India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region. During the visit, Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel, situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet, which promises all-weather connectivity to the strategically significant Tawang region and facilitates better troop movement along the frontier.
In response to China’s assertions, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rebuffed the claims as “ludicrous,” emphasizing Arunachal Pradesh’s integral status within India during a lecture at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore.
The US further fueled tensions by recognizing Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory, drawing criticism from both Chinese Foreign and Defence Ministries, which asserted that the boundary issue between China and India should not involve Washington.
Regarding the latest release of names by the Chinese Civil Affairs Ministry, the Global Times report noted that translations of names into foreign or minority languages should adhere to standards set by related organs of the State Council. These standard translations are disseminated through official notices, the national database for geographical names, and official publications.
In April 2022, the State Council issued a revised regulation on place names, governing the naming, renaming, usage, and cultural protection of geographical names within Chinese territories.