China protests Manmohan's visit to Arunachal

Beijing, Oct 13: China on Tuesday, Oct 13 expressed dissatisfaction over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu in a statement said that Manmohan Singh's trip to Arunachal Pradesh to woo voters ahead of assembly elections came despite Beijing's serious concerns.

"We demand the Indian side address China's serious and just concerns and not trigger disturbances in the disputed region so as to facilitate the healthy development of China-India relations," the statement said posted on the ministry's website.

The protest reflects enduring Chinese sensitivities over the state, which shares a 640-mile (1,030-kilometer) unfenced border with China.

Recently, China sought to block part of a loan to India from the Asian Development Bank earmarked for projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

Beijing also protested a visit to the region last month by exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

OneIndia News