China Disputes passportโ of Woman Born in Disputed Arunachal Pradesh, Claimsโ Region as Its Own
Beijing – โขChina has โrejected the passport application of a woman born in Arunachalโข Pradesh, a regionโ claimed by China as part of its territory, sparking renewed โtensions โover the long-disputed border.The case,revealed byโค the woman herself,highlights Beijing’s firm โstance on the region and its refusal to recognize Indian citizenship for โthose born within it.
The denial centers on the passport’s place of birth field, which the woman filledโ in as Arunachal โฃpradesh. Chinese authorities deemed the document “invalid” due โคto this information, citing China’s claim over โคthe area, known within China as Zangnan.This incident โunderscores the ongoing sensitivityโ surroundingโค the border dispute and its impact on individuals living in the contested region,potentially complicating travel โฃandโค international recognition for residents.
Chinese Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the issue during a press briefing, reiterating โฃChina’s position. โ”Zangnan is Chinese territory. China has never recognised the so-called Arunachal โคPradesh illegally established โby India,” she stated.
The disputed โterritory โhas been aโฃ source of friction โฃbetween the two โคnations for decades, leading to a briefโ but intense border war inโ 1962. While bothโข sides have engaged in numerous rounds of talks to resolveโข the issue, โsignificant progress remains elusive. Theโ current impasse affects not only diplomatic relations but also the lives of individuals residing in the โborder areas, as demonstrated by this recent passport denial.
Recent high-levelโ meetings, including a discussion between โคChinese President Xi Jinping and aโข top US โsenator, have emphasized the globalโค implications of China-US โขrelations, but the border dispute with India remains a separateโฃ and critical point of contention. The situation raises questions about the โfuture of travelโฃ and documentation for โresidents of arunachal Pradesh and the potential โfor further diplomaticโค friction between the two Asian powers.