China continues to show the entire Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as its territory

It is nothing new for China to show its map with Arunachal Pradesh as its territory but what is intriguing this time is the timing. It is just days ahead of the G20 summit, during which global leaders will be in India to deliberate on ways to build a harmonious and peaceful world. The Chinese government on August 28 released the “2023 edition of the standard map of China”, which continues to show Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region within its borders. The map, though the same as the previous one, shows the territorial claims on China’s western borders. The nine-dash line covering the entire South China Sea is also marked as Chinese territory. Interestingly, a “tenth dash” is placed east of Taiwan, underlining Beijing’s claims over the island. The latest map follows Beijing's April announcement that it would “standardise” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. It was the third such list of “renaming” places in Arunachal Pradesh and was seen by observers as a response to India holding events in the runup to the G20 summit in the State, which Beijing had opposed. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the September 9-10 summit in New Delhi. China actually achieves nothing, not even the sympathy of the world.

All it does is to escalate tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The territorial dispute has led to a military standoff in the past, as seen in the Doklam crisis of 2017. By asserting its claims, China risks destabilising the region and raising the potential for military clashes. This move by China is likely to strain its relations with India further. Their bilateral ties have been characterised by a mix of cooperation and competition, with both recognising the importance of economic engagement. However, territorial disputes have repeatedly strained diplomatic relations. China's decision to portray Arunachal Pradesh as its territory sends a strong message to India and could lead to a diplomatic fallout. India's response will be closely watched as it balances its territorial integrity with maintaining peaceful relations with its powerful neighbour. China's decision to depict Arunachal Pradesh as its territory in official maps just ahead of the G20 summit has significant implications for regional stability, bilateral relations and global perception of China's intentions. The international community will be closely observing how China's actions influence diplomatic dynamics in the coming weeks. What is more worrisome is that it casts a shadow of doubt over the efficacy of G20 and brings to fore the inherent contradictions within. G20 can function as a cohesive unit only if all nations are on the same page and have the will to resolve mutual issues amicably. As the world grapples with economic and political challenges, this territorial dispute reminds us of the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and the delicate balance required to maintain stability in an increasingly interconnected world.