Garima Sharma, Pune
China has been asserting its territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh once again after Indian mountaineers named the State’s unnamed peak after the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. They have named it as “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak”.
A 20,924-foot-high, previously unclimbed, peak in Arunachal Pradesh was successfully climbed by a team of 15 members which was led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS). They named the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama in honor of him. This choice to honor reflects a deep cultural connection between India and Tibet and the poetry and spirituality to both the cultures.
NIMAS is based in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh and operates under the ministry of defence. As per the reports, the defence ministry has stated that naming the peak after Tsangyang Gyatso is to pay homage to his enduring wisdom and also to his major contribution to the Monpa community.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry told the press that the area of Zangnan is in Chinese territory and it is totally illegal for India to set up the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” in their territory. And that this has been a consistent position of China.
India has rejected China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh and has said that it is an integral part of India and that by giving “invented” names won’t make any difference to the reality. As per the reports, to assert its claim, since 2017 China has been renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh.
Currently, as India-China have been engaging in economic and diplomatic relations, this issue might create territorial disputes and also an increased military posture along the border.
According to the sources, this summit in the region is one of the most challenging expeditions which got over in 15-days. The summit has sheer ice walls, 3-km-long glacier and treacherous crevasses in the Gorichen range of Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas in Tawang-West Kameng region.
The formalities for naming the peak are in process and NIMAS has also informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) about the ascent and the decision to name the peak.