China has voiced its displeasure after Indian mountaineers named an unclimbed peak in Arunachal Pradesh after the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. The peak, standing at 20,942 feet, was scaled by a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), who chose to honor the Dalai Lama, born in 1682 in the Mon Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh.
NIMAS’ Tribute to the 6th Dalai Lama
NIMAS, headquartered in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh and operating under the Ministry of Defence, announced that naming the peak “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak” is a tribute to the 6th Dalai Lama’s enduring wisdom and his significant contributions to the Monpa community. The 15-member team, led by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, completed the technically challenging 15-day expedition, which included scaling sheer ice walls, navigating treacherous crevasses, and crossing a 3-km-long glacier in the Gorichen range of the Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas.
China’s Response to the Naming
Responding to the news, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “The area of Zangnan is Chinese territory, and it’s illegal and null and void for India to set up the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ in Chinese territory.” China, which refers to Arunachal Pradesh as “Zangnan,” has been renaming locations in the region since 2017 as part of its territorial claims.
India’s Stand on the Issue
India has firmly rejected China’s claims, reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and that assigning “invented” names will not change this fact. Meanwhile, NIMAS has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) of the ascent, and formalities for officially recognizing “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak” on the map are being completed.
