SHOCKING! China says Indian President should not visit Arunachal Pradesh

Beijing: China on Monday appeared to have crossed the line when it objected to President Ram Nath Kovind's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

While raising strong objection to the India President's visit to the northeastern state, China said New Delhi should not take steps that "complicate" the border dispute, especially at a time when bilateral relations are at a "crucial moment".

"The Chinese government never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and our position on the border issue is consistent and clear," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters when asked to comment on Kovind's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet and consistently objects to any senior Indian leader or officials' visit to the state.

President Kovind had travelled to Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday.

India has always dismissed China's move, stressing that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and any Indian leader or official is as much free to visit the state as they are to any other part of the country.

In fact, India has also allowed Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to visit the state, which has infuriated China.

Both countries are "in the process of settling this issue through negotiation and consultation and seek to reach to a fair and reasonable solution acceptable to all", Lu said.

Pending final settlement all parties should work for peace and tranquillity, he said, according to PTI.

"China firmly opposes the Indian leader's relevant activities in the relevant region when China-India relations are at a crucial moment," he said.

"We hope India could work in the same direction and maintain general picture of bilateral ties and refrain from complicating border issue and work to create favourable conditions for border negotiations and for the sound and stable development of bilateral ties," he said.

Earlier this month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had visited forward areas at China border in Arunachal Pradesh and Beijing had raised objection to that visit as well.