China formally protests PM’s visit to ‘disputed’ Arunachal

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, China reiterated its stance on the north-eastern Indian state, saying it has never recognised Arunachal Pradesh and is "opposed" to the prime minister's activities in the "disputed area".

The Chinese criticism comes as both countries are preparing for Modi's visit to Beijing in May this year.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday said in Beijing that they have lodged solemn representations with the Indian side and that pending "settlement of the boundary question, the Indian side should avoid making any move that complicates the boundary question and maintain the good momentum of bilateral ties''.

Hua made the remarks on Modi "attending activities in the disputed Area of eastern part of China-India boundary".

"China holds a consistent and clear stance on the China-India boundary question. It is a fact known to all that there are substantial disputes over the eastern part of the China-India boundary; the Chinese government has never recognised the "Arunachal Pradesh".

The Chinese side is opposed to Indian leaders' activities in the disputed area, and has lodged solemn representations with the Indian side. What the Indian side has done runs counter to the efforts by the two sides to properly resolve and manage disputes and the overall interests of bilateral relations, it says.

''We urge the Indian side to take China's solemn concerns seriously, meet the Chinese side halfway and commit itself to fairly and properly resolving the bilateral boundary question through negotiation.

''Pending the settlement of the boundary question, the Indian side should avoid making any move that complicates the boundary question and maintain the good momentum of bilateral ties," Hua said.

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