India Counters China’s Naming Game, 27 Arunachal Places Added to Official Map
India has included 27 places and geographical features of Arunachal Pradesh in its official map with their standard Indian names amid efforts by China to rename places in the Indian state.
New Delhi: Another important development has come to light in the ongoing border dispute between India and China regarding Arunachal Pradesh. India has included 27 places and geographical features of Arunachal Pradesh in its official map with their standard Indian names amid efforts by China to rename places in the Indian state. The work of including these names in the Indian map has been done through the Survey of India. This move is being seen as a response to China's so-called 'naming policy'.
Why did India include 27 places in the map?
The purpose of this step by the government has been said to be to make the identification of places in the border areas clear and uniform. Recording the standard names of these places in official maps strengthens the administrative and geographical identity. This step assumes special significance in the sensitive border area because China has been presenting many areas of Arunachal Pradesh as its part for a long time. India has consistently rejected this claim.
Has China been changing the names of places in Arunachal before?
Yes. Beijing has several times issued Chinese names for different places in Arunachal Pradesh. In May 2025, China had announced changing the names of 27 places. These included 15 mountains, four passes, two rivers, one lake and five inhabited areas. Even at that time, India had rejected this move of China and had clearly said that changing the name cannot change the status of Arunachal Pradesh.
Which areas are included in the new Indian map?
The updated map of the Survey of India has recorded several sensitive places along the border with their standard names. These include Long Ju, Bisa village and many passes of strategic importance. Apart from this, Jairampur in Changlang district and Sambho Sarovar situated in high altitude area have also been recorded in the map. According to reports, the list also includes some monuments and other geographical features.
Why are Long Ju and Thag La so important?
Long Ju is counted among the very sensitive areas of the India-China border. There was an incident of infiltration of Chinese soldiers here in 1959, which increased the tension between the two countries. Similarly, Thag La Pass has been associated with the initial conflicts of the India-China war of 1962. Therefore, clearly marking these areas on the Indian map is not just a matter of geographical identification but also has strategic importance.
What has India already said on changing the name of China?
The Ministry of External Affairs has been rejecting such efforts of China in the past also. India says that giving an arbitrary or fictitious name to a place does not change the actual rights over that area. Even in 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs had completely rejected China's efforts to change the name and said that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of India.
Will registering the name end the border dispute?
It is too early to say so. There are differences in many parts between India and China regarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Registering the names of places in the official map is a step to clarify the administrative and territorial status of India, but it does not automatically end the border dispute. At present, this development is being seen as another chapter in the ongoing diplomatic and strategic tussle between the two countries.
