00:00 The United States recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and we strongly oppose any
00:06 unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments,
00:12 military or civilian, across the line of actual control.
00:15 According to the media reports, the Biden administration has vehemently denied China's
00:19 assertion and deliberate attempt to portray India's Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory.
00:25 The Biden administration's affirmation of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory,
00:29 coupled by its condemnation of the unilateral action by China along the line of actual
00:33 control reflects the intricate dynamics at play in the Indo-Pacific region.
00:38 In response to China's renewed claims over Arunachal Pradesh following Prime Minister
00:42 Narendra Modi's visit to the region, the U.S. State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson
00:47 Vedant Patel retariated Washington's support for India's sovereignty. Patel emphasized that the
00:53 U.S. firmly opposes any unilateral attempt by China to assert territorial claims through military or
00:59 civilian means across the line of actual control. China's recent assertion regarding Arunachal
01:05 Pradesh articulated by its Defense Ministry Spokesperson Colonel Zhang Xionggang highlighted
01:11 Beijing's longstanding issue and stance on the matter. China considers Arunachal Pradesh as a
01:17 part of its territory, referring to it as "South Tibet," and it has consistently objected to
01:22 Indian leaders' visits to the region. Moreover, Beijing's designation of the area as "Xiangnan"
01:28 underscores its effort to assert unwanted control over the region. India, however,
01:33 maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of its sovereign territory, rejecting China's
01:39 claims. The Indian government has also dismissed China's attempt to rename the region, emphasizing
01:44 that such actions do not alter the ground realities. The Ministry of External Affairs
01:49 also retariated India's position, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh has been, is and will always be
01:55 a part of India. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also dedicated the Sela
02:00 Tunnel on 9 March to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel, constructed at an altitude
02:07 of 13,000 feet, enhances all-weather connectivity to strategically important areas like Tawang in
02:13 Arunachal Pradesh. This infrastructure development not only facilitates better civilian mobility but
02:18 also strengthens India's military preparedness along the frontier region, sending a clear message
02:23 of sovereignty and integral territory. In the face of the growing assertiveness from
02:28 Beijing, Washington's alignment with New Delhi's territorial integrity serves as a
02:32 bulwark against unilateral expansionism and promotes the stability in the region.
