While sending out a clear message to Beijing that Arunachal Pradesh was and would remain a part of the Indian territory, India on Thursday indicated that it might take part in the ‘One Beat One Road’ Summit being hosted by China next month.
‘’Assigning invented names to the towns of your neighbour does not make illegal territorial claims legal,’’ MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said when asked for response to China’s decision to rename six places in the North-eastern state, which Beijing calls ‘South Tibet’.
He confirmed that India had received an invitation from China for participating in the OBOR Summit, a signature initiative of President Xi Jinping. The invite was being considered.
Although China has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the summit, India is said to be considering asking its envoy in Beijing to attend the meet. Nearly 30 Heads of State or Government are likely to participate in it.
India has already lodged its protest with China over the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is seen as part of the OBOR initiative, since it passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). New Delhi is expected to reiterate this position if it takes part in the OBOR Summit.