India rejects China protest on PM's Arunachal visit-India-The Times of India

India rejects China protest on PM's Arunachal visit-India-The Times of India

India rejects China protest on PM's Arunachal visit9 Feb 2008, 0024 hrs IST,Indrani Bagchi,TNN
Print
Save
EMail
Write to Editor

NEW DELHI: If the rest of India applauded the Prime Minister's turn of phrase in Arunachal Pradesh in describing the state as India's land of the rising sun, it did not amuse the Chinese. Days later, Chinese officials collared the Indian embassy at a meeting and registered their protest at the Prime Minister's visit. In return, India told the Chinese that Arunachal Pradesh belonged to India and that was the reality China would have to live with. What was interesting in the protest was not that it happened. Given China's position on Arunachal Pradesh, sources said it would have been surprising if the protest had not happened. Despite the fact that the protest was apparently made in a "proforma" fashion, by a lowly official, the fact remains that China's protest continues to add a sour note to the relations. Neither China nor India has formally acknowledged the protest, but government sources confirmed the diplomatic exchange which happened in Beijing a few days ago. The government is trying to play it down, but alarm bells continue to ring on the boundary issue between India and China. It's part of a continuing trend. Coinciding with the Prime Minister's recent visit to China, a protest by the Chinese on Indian troop movements in Sikkim followed an Indian protest on repeated incursions by the Chinese in Arunachal Pradesh.