China's criticism of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's trip to Arunachal Pradesh was rejected by India, which argued that it was illogical and would not alter the fact that the northeastern state was and would always be a fundamental part of India.
Beijing had reacted to Shah’s visit saying it violated China’s territorial integrity and wasn’t conducive to peace and tranquility in the border areas. “We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, reacting to China’s statement on Shah’s visit.
“Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality,” he added.
Arunachal is and will be an integral part of India, India responded last week after Beijing gave Chinese names to 11 locations in the state, ostensibly in retaliation for a G20 conference that India had staged there against Beijing's objections.
Shah stated "no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an inch of our land" in a message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh. He claimed that the day when anyone could infringe on India's borders was over.