China border dispute

India and China have long disputed sovereignty over an area that New Delhi calls the state of "Arunachal Pradesh," while Beijing claims it belongs to "Southern Tibet." China has renamed the area on its official maps and issued separate visas to Indian citizens residing there to assert its claim.

"Southern Tibet has been Chinese territory since ancient times. This is an undeniable fact," said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian at a press briefing on March 28, according to Newsweek .

Mr. Ngo's statement was a direct response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the strategically important Himalayan region earlier this month.

China-India border dispute intensifies after US statement.

During the trip, Modi attended the inauguration of the Sela Tunnel, a key infrastructure development project aimed at improving connectivity to the Tawang region in western Arunachal Pradesh, where Indian and Chinese troops clashed in December 2022. Construction began in October 2020.

The statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson comes amid heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates the two Asian powers in recent times.

Sela Pass is located in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls Southern Tibet.

The US has angered China by voicing support for India in the face of Beijing's criticism of the Sela Tunnel.

"The United States recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by encroaching upon or violating the LAC, whether military or civilian," U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said last week.

Ngo Khiem responded to the statement from Washington. "The US has a bad record of instigating disputes with other countries and pursuing its own selfish interests in the past, and the international community can clearly see this," he said at a press conference on March 28.

Earlier this month, China's Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. for interfering in border tensions between India and China.

"China deeply regrets and firmly opposes this. The Sino-Indian border has never been demarcated. Southern Tibet has always been Chinese territory, a fundamental fact that cannot be denied... The Sino-Indian border issue is a matter between the two countries and has nothing to do with the United States," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.

New Delhi considers Beijing's claims "baseless." Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal affirmed on March 28 that Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of India, a fact that cannot be changed despite China's persistent assertions.

"Our position has been made very clear. China can repeat its baseless claims as many times as it likes. That will not change India's position," the Times of India quoted Jaiswal as saying at a press conference.

The open war of words continues amid efforts to ease tensions at the border. Representatives from China and India held their 29th round of talks in Beijing on March 27.

At the border, military leaders from China and India have also held 21 rounds of talks, but at the same time both sides continue their efforts to deploy armed forces.

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