New Delhi: China brushed off concerns over the whereabouts of the five youths from a village in Arunachal Pradesh allegedly abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army(PLA) and said it has never recognised the northeastern state which it claims is part of south Tibet.
China’s position on the east sector of the China-India boundary, or Zangnan–the southern part of China’s Xizang (Tibet), is consistent and clear, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a media briefing in Beijing, adding the Chinese government has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh.
I’m not aware of the situation you mentioned, the Chinese spokesperson said when asked about any updates about the missing Indian nationals.
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has condemned the Chinese statement dubbing the state as part of “South Tibet”.
“The people of the state outrightly reject the dubious statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry dubbing our state as part of ‘South Tibet’.
We strongly condemn such statements and advise the Chinese government to refrain from such notoriety,” the union said in a statement in Itanagar.
The Indian Army had told its Chinese counterpart about the five civilians, who were engaged as guides and porters by the Army in the Upper Subansiri district on the Sino-India border, on Saturday.