India slams China for objecting to US envoy’s Arunachal visit

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October 25, 2016;

PTI, The Indian Express

Rebuffing China for objecting to US Ambassador Richard Verma’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India on Monday said there was “nothing unusual” about his trip to a state which is an integral part of the country.

“The US Ambassador visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state which is an integral part of the country to which he is accredited. There is nothing unusual in it,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here.

Taking exception to the visit by Verma, China said it was firmly opposed to it and that any interference by Washington in the Sino-India boundary dispute will make it “more complicated” and “disturb” hard won peace at the border.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang also asked the S to desist from interfering in the India-China border dispute while referring to Verma’s October 22 tour to Tawang at the invitation of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

“We have also noted that the place visited by senior US diplomatic official is a disputed region between China and India. We are firmly opposed to his visit,” he said.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet and routinely protests visits by Indian leaders, foreign officials as well as the Dalai Lama to the area.