India counters China, formally names 27 places in Arunachal Pradesh
India has formally identified 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh on its official Survey of India map to counter China's attempts to rename areas in the region. The list includes strategically significant sites such as mountain passes, lakes, and memorials that have historical relevance to India-China border conflicts.
Why it matters
This move serves as a diplomatic and administrative assertion of sovereignty over disputed border territories amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with China.
In response to frequent attempts by China to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh, India on Friday (August 7, 2026) formally identified 27 places — including land, passes, a lake and a monument — in the border State by their standard names on the official Indian map.
“Identifying them formally on the Survey of India map of Arunachal Pradesh is aimed at facilitating their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large,” the Union Home Ministry said in a statement.
The 27 locations formally marked on the official map include Long Ju located along the Line of Actual Control, which was one of the earliest flashpoints between India and China in 1959 when Chinese forces entered the area.
Maja, a village near Long Ju in Upper Subansiri district, has also been marked on the map, the statement said.
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