A new report from the US Pentagon has said that China now treats its claim over Arunachal Pradesh as one of its “core interests”, along with Taiwan and the South China Sea. The report was submitted to the US Congress. It warned that Arunachal Pradesh could become a major point of tension between India and China in the coming years.
According to the report, China links these claims to its plan of achieving the “great rejuvenation” of the nation by 2049. As part of this plan, China aims to develop a world-class military that can “fight and win” wars. India, however, has repeatedly stated that Arunachal Pradesh is and will always remain an integral part of the country.
The report also highlighted recent incidents involving Arunachal Pradesh. A woman from Arunachal was detained for 18 hours at a Shanghai airport because her passport listed Arunachal as her birthplace. In another case, a YouTuber was detained in China after stating that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India. 
Experts say it is significant that the US is now openly mentioning China’s strategy in Arunachal, as earlier it mostly focused on Ladakh. The report also noted that China is balancing calm on the border while keeping pressure on India through Pakistan. It said China may want to prevent India from moving closer to the US.
India and China had earlier agreed to disengage troops in Ladakh, but tensions around Arunachal Pradesh have grown again. Beijing continues to refer to the state as “southern Tibet”, a claim that India strongly rejects.
