India rejects China's claim on Arunachal

India today rejected China's claim that Arunachal Pradesh was Chinese territory. "Arunachal is an integral part of India," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here, a day after China's Ambassador to India Sun Yuxi claimed the country's right over Arunachal Pradesh.

Mukherjee said the position of the respective countries with regard to Arunachal is known. For New Delhi, Arunachal is not only an integral part but also 'inalienable' part of India and there can be no discussion on that, sources in external affairs ministry said in reaction to Sun Yuxi's comments.

The Chinese Ambassador told a TV channel: "In our position, the whole of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory and Tawang is only one place in it. We are claiming whole of that (Arunachal Pradesh). That is our position."

A week before Chinese president Hu Jintao's visit to India, the interview has made the visit uncomfortable, with many in the government questioning the timing of the interview.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor S K Singh, himself a former diplomat, also disapproved of Chinese Ambassador's comments saying it was an 'arrogant' way of negotiation. "This is an arrogant way of negotiation from China. Chinese have done this before, it is an odd way," he said.

The two countries are currently engaged in talks to resolve the boundary issue through their special representatives who have held eight rounds of discussions so far. Last year, they signed the 'Political Parameters and Guiding Principles' to resolve the border issue.