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India has formally identified 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh on the official Survey of India map, responding to China's repeated attempts to assign alternative names to places in the State.

Background

• China has issued alternative names for locations in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017, 2021 and 2023, while referring to the State as “Zangnan” (South Tibet). Such renaming attempts are aimed at reinforcing China's territorial claims and creating an alternative geographical narrative.
• India's formal identification of these locations is therefore an assertion of its territorial claims and administrative authority over Arunachal Pradesh.

Important Locations Identified

• The locations include strategically and historically significant areas such as Long Ju, an India-China border flashpoint in 1959, and Thag La, where fighting began during the 1962 India-China War.
• Several important high-altitude passes—including Bisa, Dzo La, Riza La, Pukur La and Thag La—are also included. Jairampur in Changlang district is significant for connectivity towards eastern Arunachal Pradesh and the Myanmar border.
• The list also includes sites of historical and cultural significance such as Jaswant Garh, associated with Jaswant Singh Rawat, the Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, and Sambho Sarovar, a high-altitude lake.

Strategic Significance of Arunachal Pradesh

• Arunachal Pradesh shares international borders with China (Tibet Autonomous Region), Bhutan and Myanmar, while Assam and Nagaland lie to its south.
• Its strategic importance extends beyond territorial considerations. The State forms part of the upper catchment of important Brahmaputra tributaries, including the Subansiri, Kameng and Lohit. Its high-altitude passes, including Thag La and Bum La, also have considerable military significance.
• Tawang adds another geopolitical dimension because of its association with Tibetan Buddhism and the 6th Dalai Lama.

McMahon Line

India considers the McMahon Line, established through the 1914 Simla Convention, as the basis of its boundary with China in this sector. China rejects the McMahon Line and disputes India's territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh.