In the wake of China’s recent release of a new map, incorporating disputed territories such as Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region, Ninong Ering, a Congress MLA, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to a report, the letter, penned on Tuesday, calls for Prime Minister Modi to raise concerns about the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) aggressive actions at the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled for September 9-10 in New Delhi. China’s ‘standard map,’ revealed on Monday, has ignited controversy by including contested areas like Taiwan, the South China Sea, and its claims over Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin.
Ering expressed that this move by China has stirred resentment among the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The PRC had previously attempted to assert its claim over Arunachal Pradesh through renaming locations in 2017, 2021, and April 2023. He highlighted that the release of China’s new map is significant, especially due to Arunachal Pradesh’s integral status within India and the historical memory of the 1962 Sino-Indian war.
Recalling the sacrifices of Indian Army personnel in the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, the MLA emphasised that India has consistently defended its land and sovereignty. The letter also referenced Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statements about protecting every inch of India’s territory, drawing attention to the India-PRC standoff in the Tawang district in December 2022.
“I urge you to address the issue of the PRC’s unilateral alterations to its map in conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the impending G20 Summit scheduled for 9-10 September 2023 in New Delhi,” conveyed the MLA in his communication to the Prime Minister. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of shedding light on and internationally denouncing this matter through pertinent state-run media channels, aiming to raise global awareness regarding the PRC’s aggressive actions.
Ering warned against maintaining silence on the issue, suggesting that the PRC might exploit such silence to bolster their claims. He underscored the necessity of avoiding any perception of tacit approval of China’s territorial assertions by the Indian side.
