New Delhi – The United States officially on Tuesday rejected Beijing’s assertion that the northeastern state of India is part of Chinese territory and recognized the McMahon Line as the international border between China and India’s Arunachal Pradesh.
China rejects the McMahon Line between the two countries.
Arunachal Pradesh was recognised as a “integral part” of India and backed for its “sovereignty and territorial integrity” in a bipartisan resolution that was originally introduced in the US Senate last month.
The resolution, titled “Reaffirming the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and condemning the People’s Republic of China’s provocations in South Asia,” was passed following one of the most significant clashes between Indian and Chinese forces that occurred in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, in December of last year.
The resolution not only recognised the McMahon Line but also denounced Chinese provocations in the area, including Beijing’s use of military force to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, the building of villages in disputed areas, the publication of maps with Mandarin names for cities that include Arunachal Pradesh, and the expansion of Beijing’s territorial claims over Bhutan.
It is crucial for the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder with our key partners in the region, especially India, at a time when China continues to pose serious and growing challenges to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
The resolution was first introduced in the Senate by Hagerty, a former US ambassador to Japan, and Jeff Markley, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Committee on China. Also, they are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), which just approved President Joe Biden’s choice for US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. John Cornyn, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, also supported the motion.
The US-India strategic alliance and the Quad in support of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific are further strengthened by this bipartisan resolution, according to Senator Bill Hagerty, who also condemned China’s military action to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.
This bipartisan resolution also “commends” the Centre for “taking steps to defend itself against aggression and security threats from the People’s Republic of China, including through securing its telecommunications infrastructure, examining its procurement processes and supply chains, implementing investment screening standards, and expanding its cooperation with Taiwan in public health and other sectors”.
This resolution improves bilateral connections between the US and India in many areas, from diplomatic relations to defence and technology cooperation. Through alliances and discussions with groups like the QUAD, the Association of Southeast Asian States, and other international organisations, it also improves bilateral and multilateral collaboration between the two nations.
