India slams China over ‘fictitious naming’ of places in Arunachal Pradesh, calls it ‘mischievous attempt’

India on Sunday hit out at China for assigning “fictitious names” to places within Indian territory, including parts of Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move a “mischievous attempt.”

In a firm response, the Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi “categorically rejects” such actions, asserting that renaming locations cannot change the ground reality. “These places and territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, were, are, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the statement said, dismissing Beijing’s effort as an attempt to push “false claims” and “baseless narratives.”

The ministry also cautioned that such steps could undermine ongoing efforts to stabilise ties, urging China to avoid actions that “inject negativity” into bilateral relations. India’s reaction came after Beijing announced a fresh list of Chinese names for several places in Arunachal Pradesh—part of a pattern seen in recent years.

New Delhi has consistently rejected these moves. In May 2025, it termed a similar exercise involving 27 locations as “preposterous,” reiterating its long-standing stance. China has carried out comparable renaming efforts in 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024, often during periods of heightened border tensions. The first such move in 2017 followed the Dalai Lama’s visit to the state.

The latest exchange also comes amid lingering friction in eastern Ladakh, where China has created a new administrative division in the Xinjiang region near the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

While ties have seen some easing since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, concerns over border developments persist. Recent engagements between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have aimed at stabilising relations, but tensions along the Line of Actual Control continue to remain a key challenge.