China protests PM's visit to Arunachal; India disappointed

Indo-Asian News Service | Hindustan Times
October 13, 2009

India expressed disappointment over China's protest against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, whose ownership is disputed by Beijing.

"We express our disappointment and concern over the statement made by the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs since this does not help the process of ongoing negotiations on the boundary question," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.

He said that the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders Tibet, was an "integral and inalienable part of India" and its people are "proud participants in the mainstream of India's vibrant democracy".

He said China was "well aware of this position" of the Indian government.

External Affiars Minister SM Krishna added: "I have said it in parliament that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. We rest it at that."

Their comments followed a Chinese foreign ministry statement that Beijing "is strongly dissatisfied with the visit to the disputed region by the Indian leader disregarding China's serious concerns...

"We demand the Indian side address China's serious concerns and not trigger disturbance in the disputed region so as to facilitate the healthy development of Sino-India relations," spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in Beijing.

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