China Claims Arunachal Pradesh Calling It ‘South Tibet’; Firing At Border

New Delhi: Chinese provocation increased on Tuesday with shots being reportedly fired at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

At the same time on the eastern front, China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that it doesn’t recognize the region of ‘so-called Arunachal Pradesh’ and refers to it as ‘South Tibet’.

Asked about the five missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh at a press conference, Zhao Lijian, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson, said: “China’s position with regard to the eastern sector of the China-India boundary, i.e. South Tibet region, is consistent and clear. We have never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh, illegally established on the Chinese territory. Regarding the specifics (missing youth), I am not aware of it now.”

Locals have alleged that the five youths were kidnapped by Chinese forces from Nacho village of Upper Subansiri district.

China had reacted strongly last month when Home Minister Amit Shah visited the region. China accused Shah of violating China’s territorial sovereignty and undermining the stability at the border.

India had reacted stating that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral, inalienable part” of India and added that “objecting to a visit of any leader of India to Arunachal Pradesh does not stand to reason and understanding of India”.

The relationship, which has worsened since the face-off in Ladakh on June 15, is getting tenser with reports of firing “a few rounds in the air”.

China has accused India of “severe military provocation” after soldiers crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Monday and intruded into the southern coast of Pangong Tso lake and “opened fire to threaten the Chinese border defence patrol officers”.

India, on the other hand, said Chinese border forces were “blatantly violating agreements”.

“It is the PLA (China’s People’s Liberation Army) that has been blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive manoeuvres,” the Indian army said in a statement on Tuesday. The Indian army has also said that they have “exercised great restraint” despite “the grave provocation”.

Both sides have sent tens of thousands of troops to the disputed Himalayan border at the 4,000 metres high Pangong Tso lake region.

Defence Ministers from both sides had met in Moscow to discuss the issue.