Goa, April 12 -- India has strongly rejected China's latest move to assign new names to several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a "mischievous attempt" with no legal standing. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that the northeastern state is an integral and inalienable part of India, and such actions by China will not change ground realities.

Beijing has repeatedly issued lists renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as "Zangnan," a claim India has consistently dismissed. Officials stated that inventing names does not alter sovereignty and reflects China's continued efforts to assert its territorial claims.

India also emphasised that such steps only complicate border relations and undermine mutual tr...