'We Don’t Take It Seriously': CM Pema Khandu On China’s Claim Over Arunachal | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 16:40 IST

For Khandu, the pattern is familiar enough not to warrant alarm. What matters more, he suggested, is India’s consistent position and the reality on the ground

Tensions between India and China have long remained fraught along the eastern sector, with Beijing periodically renewing its claims over Arunachal Pradesh. From issuing so-called “standardised" maps to printing names of places in the region on official documents, China’s moves have been consistent, if not predictable. New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed these claims as baseless, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always be" an integral part of India.

This backdrop formed the context for a wider conversation in the capital this week, where policymakers and experts gathered to discuss a different but equally urgent issue. At “The Future of the Himalayas: Rethinking Development and Resilience", a new white paper flagged how climate stress, erratic rainfall, and unplanned infrastructure are putting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem under strain. Released by the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence at the India International Centre, on Monday, the report calls for a shift from piecemeal projects to a more holistic, system-level approach to development.

On the sidelines of the event, CNN-News18 sat down with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The conversation moved between geopolitics and ground realities, from China’s repeated assertions over Arunachal to tourism, development, and the lived experience of a border state.

Khandu was clear and unflustered when asked about Beijing’s past moves.

“Renaming Arunachal Pradesh by the Chinese is not a new thing for us," he said. “I think this is their sixth attempt. They have been renaming different parts of Arunachal. So, we don’t care. We don’t take it seriously. The Ministry of External Affairs has already issued an official statement."

For him, the pattern is familiar enough not to warrant alarm. What matters more, he suggested, is India’s consistent position and the reality on the ground.

The conversation then turned to incidents that go beyond maps and statements. Earlier this year, an Indian citizen from Arunachal reportedly faced issues at a Chinese airport, where her passport was questioned. Did such actions point to something deeper in Beijing’s approach?

Khandu chose his words carefully, but his message was firm.

“China has been claiming Arunachal Pradesh for a long time," he said. “Because of that, they take such unnecessary steps. But to be very clear, Arunachal was never part of Tibet. China is a faraway place."

He pointed to history to underline his argument, referencing the Simla Agreement and the McMahon Line, which defined the boundary between British India and Tibet in 1914.

“There is a Chinese claim, but we don’t honour it, we don’t believe it," he added. “To justify their claim, they try to create such issues."

Even as geopolitics dominates headlines, Khandu seemed more interested in shifting the focus back home. At an event centred on the Himalayas, the conversation naturally turned to tourism and perception.

For many Indians, Arunachal Pradesh still feels distant, even unfamiliar. Questions about accessibility and safety often come up, especially for first-time travellers.

Khandu dismissed those concerns with ease. “Arunachal is one of the finest places on earth," he said, almost smiling. “There is nothing to be afraid of. It’s a lovely place. There’s no issue at all."

It’s a line he has repeated often, but one he clearly believes in. For a state that remains one of India’s least explored, tourism is both an opportunity and a balancing act, especially in a fragile ecological zone.

So what sets Arunachal apart?

Khandu didn’t hesitate. “The rich biodiversity. The freshness."

That tension between development and conservation was a key theme of the white paper released at the event. Dikshu Kukreja, Director at CP Kukreja Architects, pushed back against the idea that growth must come at the cost of the environment.

“There is a complete misconception that if we favour development, it is at the cost of the environment," he told CNN-News18. “Development and environment can actually be two sides of the same coin."

For Kukreja, the solution lies in rethinking how projects are designed and executed in mountain regions.

“It’s about understanding the environment first," he said. “Whether it’s a highway, a tunnel, or any other infrastructure, if you study the data, respect the terrain and design accordingly, you can find solutions that work with nature, not against it."

The white paper echoes that argument. It notes a 15 to 20 per cent rise in extreme rainfall events in the Himalayas since the 1950s, along with an increase in landslides and mounting pressure on infrastructure. These are not isolated incidents, it warns, but signs of a deeper mismatch between development models and ecological realities.

For a border state like Arunachal Pradesh, those challenges are layered. Strategic infrastructure is essential, but so is environmental balance. Tourism offers growth but also brings pressure.

Khandu did not delve into policy specifics during the conversation, but his responses hinted at a broader approach. Assertive on sovereignty, relaxed about external noise, and confident about the state’s potential.

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