Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI449
2008-02-12 11:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
CHINA PROTEST OF SINGH'S ARUNACHAL PRADESH TRIP
how-toVZCZCXRO6408 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHVC DE RUEHNE #0449 0431126 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121126Z FEB 08 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0398 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6003 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7536 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000449
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED ADDRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS CH IN
SUBJECT: CHINA PROTEST OF SINGH'S ARUNACHAL PRADESH TRIP
DRAWS ATTENTION IN THE INDIAN PRESS
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000449
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED ADDRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS CH IN
SUBJECT: CHINA PROTEST OF SINGH'S ARUNACHAL PRADESH TRIP
DRAWS ATTENTION IN THE INDIAN PRESS
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) India's major news outlets carried reports February
8-9 that China had informally objected to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's January 31 visit to Arunachal Pradesh (AP),
during which he made a point of commenting that "Arunachal
Pradesh is the easternmost state of our country, and the sun
kisses the country here first...it is our land of the rising
sun." According to "The Economic Times," China protested the
Prime Minister's statement for being improper while the two
countries work out a solution on disputed border issues.
"The Times of India" reported that a "lowly official"
registered China's informal protest during a meeting at the
Indian Embassy.
2. (U) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not
formally acknowledged the protest, but External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quoted by the press in Mumbai
as stating that "Arunachal is an integral part of our
country. We are having elected representatives in Parliament
from the state. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the
Prime Minister can visit any part of the country."
3. (C) Comment: While this was not a front page Indian media
story, it was carried by several media outlets, all with a
similar angle - that PM Singh was asserting Indian
sovereignty along the border. Post understands that this
story was not widely carried by Chinese media, suggesting
that the protest carried more significance in India than in
China; i.e., India can ignore an informal, low-level comment
by the Chinese and continue asserting its claim to AP. End
comment.
WHITE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED ADDRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS CH IN
SUBJECT: CHINA PROTEST OF SINGH'S ARUNACHAL PRADESH TRIP
DRAWS ATTENTION IN THE INDIAN PRESS
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) India's major news outlets carried reports February
8-9 that China had informally objected to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's January 31 visit to Arunachal Pradesh (AP),
during which he made a point of commenting that "Arunachal
Pradesh is the easternmost state of our country, and the sun
kisses the country here first...it is our land of the rising
sun." According to "The Economic Times," China protested the
Prime Minister's statement for being improper while the two
countries work out a solution on disputed border issues.
"The Times of India" reported that a "lowly official"
registered China's informal protest during a meeting at the
Indian Embassy.
2. (U) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not
formally acknowledged the protest, but External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quoted by the press in Mumbai
as stating that "Arunachal is an integral part of our
country. We are having elected representatives in Parliament
from the state. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the
Prime Minister can visit any part of the country."
3. (C) Comment: While this was not a front page Indian media
story, it was carried by several media outlets, all with a
similar angle - that PM Singh was asserting Indian
sovereignty along the border. Post understands that this
story was not widely carried by Chinese media, suggesting
that the protest carried more significance in India than in
China; i.e., India can ignore an informal, low-level comment
by the Chinese and continue asserting its claim to AP. End
comment.
WHITE