{"id":181472,"date":"2015-02-20T15:10:19","date_gmt":"2015-02-20T23:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=181472"},"modified":"2015-02-20T15:18:37","modified_gmt":"2015-02-20T23:18:37","slug":"beijing-protests-modis-visit-disputed-border-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2015\/02\/beijing-protests-modis-visit-disputed-border-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Beijing Protests Modi’s Visit to Disputed Border Region"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Arunachal Pradesh<\/a>, a north-eastern Indian state whose legitimacy has long been contested by China. Modi’s visit came on the 28th anniversary of the state’s establishment, and coincided with the inauguration of a new train line<\/a> connecting the mountainous state with the capital city of New Delhi. Unsurprisingly, China’s foreign ministry lodged official protest against Modi’s visit<\/strong><\/a> to the disputed border region that China considers part of Tibet, and hence rightfully under Beijing’s sovereignty. From Pete Sweeney at Reuters:<\/p>\n “The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’,” a statement on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website said on Friday.<\/p>\n It said Modi’s visit was “not conducive to the overall development of bilateral relations”.<\/p>\n Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh on Friday to inaugurate the opening of a train line and power station. He did not mention China but pledged billions of dollars of investment to develop infrastructure in the region.<\/p>\n “I assure you that you will witness more development in the state in the next five years than it has seen in the last 28 years,” Modi said, addressing a huge crowd.<\/p>\n […]\u00a0In January, China objected to statements by Japan<\/a>‘s foreign ministry supporting India’s claim to the region. [Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n China is also involved in a diplomatic standoff with Japan over the two nations’ competing claims<\/a> to the Diaoyu\/Senkaku Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Modi didn’t mention China during his trip to Arunachal, coverage from the Times of India notes<\/a> that “Beijing already has rail connectivity right up to Lhasa.” China last year announced plans to extend the Lhasa-Shigatse rail line towards the Indian border by 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n