In a bipartisan Senate resolution, the US has recognised the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh. 

“At a time when China continues to pose grave and gathering threats to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, it is critical for the United States to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our strategic partners in the region, especially India,” Senator Bill Hagerty, who along with Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a resolution in the Senate, was quoted by news agency PTI. 

The resolution which sees Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India, condemned China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, and further enhanced the US-India strategic partnership and the Quad in support of the free and open Indo-Pacific. 

This resolution comes after the biggest clash between India and China in six years in the Eastern Sector along the Line of Actual Control, it reaffirms that the United States recognises the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and Arunachal Pradesh.

The resolution also pushes back against the People's Republic of China's (PRC) claims that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of PRC territory. 

“America’s values supporting freedom and a rules-based order must be at the center of all of our actions and relationships around the world, especially as the PRC government pushes an alternative vision,” Merkley said.

He added that the resolution is clear that the 'US views the Indian state, Arunachal Pradesh, as a part of the Republic of India and not the People’s Republic of China.' He further said the resolution commits the US to deepen support and assistance to the region, alongside like-minded international partners and donors. 

This resolution, co-sponsored by Senator John Cornyn mentions China’s provocations, including its use of military force to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, construction of villages in contested areas, publication of maps with Mandarin-language names for cities and features in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and expansion of PRC territorial claims in Bhutan.

The bipartisan Senators’ resolution commends the steps taken by India to defend itself against aggression and security threats from the People’s Republic of China. These efforts include securing India’s telecommunications infrastructure; examining its procurement processes and supply chains; implementing investment screening standards; and expanding its cooperation with Taiwan in public health and other sectors.

According to the PTI report, the resolution will strengthen India’s bilateral relationship with the US in terms of defence, technology, economics, and people-to-people ties. 

It promotes enhancing multilateral cooperation between the two countries through Quad, the East Asia Summit alongside our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and other international fora.

Image courtesy: IANS