New Delhi: India has made a significant move to reinforce its territorial and historical claims over Arunachal Pradesh by officially standardising the names of 27 locations in the northeastern state, directly countering China’s repeated attempts to rename Indian territories and portray Arunachal Pradesh as part of its claimed “Zangnan” or South Tibet region.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the updated mapping exercise on August 7, with the Survey of India incorporating the recognised Indian names of 27 geographically, historically and strategically important locations. The move comes amid a cautious improvement in India-China ties but also underlines New Delhi’s position that diplomatic engagement and border de-escalation will not mean any compromise on India’s sovereignty.
The updated list includes 21 settlements and land areas, four mountain passes, one high-altitude lake and one war memorial. Among the locations identified are Longju, Maja, Bisa, Jairampur, Teritnagar, Ramnagar, Jaswant Garh, Sagar, Baisakhi and Kamlang Nagar. The mountain passes include Dzo La, Riza La, Pukur La and the strategically significant Thag La. Sambho Sarovar and the Sher-e-Thapa Memorial are also part of the list.
According to the government, the objective is to ensure precise identification of locations and create an authoritative reference for governance, planning and disaster management.
Mapping India’s history of resistance
Among the most significant locations is Longju, where Indian and Chinese forces clashed in 1959. The incident, in which an Assam Rifles post came under attack by Chinese troops, became an early indication of the growing military challenge along the frontier.
The inclusion of Thag La is equally significant. The area was a major flashpoint during the 1962 India-China war, when Indian troops fought Chinese forces in some of the earliest and fiercest engagements of the conflict.
The map also highlights Jaswant Garh, associated with Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery during the Battle of Nuranang in 1962. The Sher-e-Thapa Memorial similarly commemorates Indian military valour during the conflict.
By formally incorporating these locations into official cartography, India is not merely identifying places on a map; it is preserving the historical record of its military presence and sacrifices in the region.
Beijing objects, India stands firm
China reacted sharply to the development. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing did not recognise what it described as the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh” and claimed that attempts to replace Chinese names with Indian “standard names” were “illegal, null and void.”
China has itself pursued a policy of renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh. It issued lists of purported “standard names” in 2017, 2021 and 2023 and subsequently published a map portraying Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of Chinese territory.
India has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
Why the timing matters
The timing of the announcement is particularly noteworthy. India and China held the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi on August 6, just a day before the mapping exercise was announced.
The two sides discussed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding misunderstandings.
India and China have also resumed border trade through Nathu La and Shipki La, signalling tentative efforts to stabilise bilateral relations.
Against this backdrop, the Arunachal mapping exercise sends a clear message: India can pursue dialogue, economic engagement and de-escalation while simultaneously remaining uncompromising on its territorial sovereignty.
The move also comes ahead of the BRICS Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping could potentially interact.
Backed by infrastructure on the ground
India’s cartographic assertion is accompanied by substantial infrastructure development along the frontier.
Projects such as the Frontier Highway, the Sela Tunnel and the Vibrant Villages Programme are strengthening connectivity, logistics and civilian presence in remote border areas.
For decades after the 1962 war, India’s frontier policy was constrained by concerns that infrastructure could facilitate an adversary’s advance. That approach has increasingly given way to a strategy focused on connectivity, rapid mobilisation and stronger border settlements.
The latest map update therefore represents more than a symbolic response to China’s cartographic tactics. It reflects India’s broader effort to consolidate its administrative, historical and strategic presence in Arunachal Pradesh.
