Imagine waking up one morning to find that your home, your land, and your very identity—things you cherish—have been renamed. Not by your own leaders, but by a foreign power. In today’s intricate geopolitical landscape, where even minor administrative changes require extensive paperwork, how can one country simply rename another’s legally recognized territory without a full-scale occupation? Yet, this is exactly what occurred to the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
In March-April 2024, residents of Arunachal Pradesh were shocked to discover that China had unilaterally renamed 30 locations within their state. The Indian government’s response, “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of our country,” while resolute, raises an important question: If I were to rename your house, would that make it mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and always will be a part of India, and no amount of fabricated claims can change that fundamental truth.
We won’t dive into the complex diplomatic details, but this incident serves as a stark reminder of how China perceives India. There’s an old saying: “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” So, how do Chinese media and the general public view India? Let’s take a closer look.
China’s decision to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh isn’t a random act; it’s a well-thought-out strategy. The aim is to gradually condition those who see the world through China’s perspective, particularly the Chinese population, to associate these locations with their new Chinese names, effectively replacing the original ones.
At first, people may find it difficult to adjust to these new names. However, as they become more common in everyday language, the perception will slowly take hold that these territories must belong to China. The reasoning? “If the name sounds Chinese, it must be Chinese land, and India must have illegally occupied it and renamed it.”
This tactic isn’t exclusive to Arunachal Pradesh. China has used similar methods in other regions. They apply political pressure to enforce name changes, like insisting that Taiwan be called “Chinese Taipei.” A similar strategy is evident in the South China Sea, where China has popularized names to assert its control over disputed waters.
Following this trend, China has renamed various residential areas, mountains, rivers, a lake, a mountain pass, and a land parcel in Arunachal Pradesh on its official maps. Additionally, China does not refer to the region as Arunachal Pradesh; instead, it calls it “Zangnan” and claims that “Zangnan” is part of South Tibet. Since Tibet is under Chinese control, this reinforces the notion that South Tibet must also belong to China.
This isn’t just speculation. When the U.S. officially recognized Arunachal Pradesh as part of India last year, China’s foreign ministry reacted by stating that “Zangnan has always been part of China, and that is an undeniable fact.” China even asserted that India has no right to undertake any development in Arunachal Pradesh. Through such narratives, China depicts India as a nation that illegally occupies land while portraying itself as the victim.
China spreads these narratives through tightly controlled and censored media. Unlike India, where access to a variety of information is readily available, China’s internet and media are heavily restricted. If the Chinese government wants to keep something from its citizens, they simply ensure it remains unseen.
This censorship is so severe that even China’s AI models are designed to avoid generating negative responses about the country. This controlled flow of information significantly shapes the Chinese public’s views of other nations.
A 2023 survey from Tsinghua University revealed surprising insights into how the Chinese people view other countries. Despite ongoing tensions and trade disputes, a notable percentage still held favorable views of the U.S. and Japan. However, the proportion of Chinese respondents who viewed India positively was alarmingly low.
Hatred between nations is harmful, but animosity among their populations is even more damaging. It hinders global cooperation and perpetuates long-term conflict. But can we expect change?
There is reason for optimism. Recently, a Chinese traveler shared a viral video about his positive experiences in India, encouraging others to visit with an open mind. Likewise, surveys have been conducted to explore public perceptions in both India and China, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between these two countries.
It’s crucial to recognize how other nations influence their citizens’ opinions and to foster a more balanced narrative.