Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon and Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee collaborated on a Senate resolution which affirms the United States’ recognition of Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state, as an integral part of the Republic of India.
This resolution is in response to the recent clash between India and China along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, which has been the most significant conflict in six years.
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“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 People’s Republic of China (PRC) government pushes an alternative vision,” Senator Merkley, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“This resolution makes clear that the United States views the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India—not the People’s Republic of China—and commits the US to deepening support and assistance to the region, alongside like-minded international partners and donors.”
At a time when China continues to pose grave and gathering threats to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, it’s critical for the United States to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our strategic partners in the region—especially India,” said Senator Hagerty.
“This bipartisan resolution expresses the Senate’s support for unequivocally recognizing the state of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India, condemning China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, and further enhancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and the Quad in support of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
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The bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley and Bill Hagerty reiterates the United States’ recognition of the McMahon Line as the international boundary between the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the People’s Republic of China.
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The resolution opposes the PRC’s territorial claims to Arunachal Pradesh and criticises their aggressive policies, including their use of military force to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control and construction of villages in contested areas. Additionally, the resolution praises the Government of India for taking measures to defend itself against security threats from China, such as securing telecommunications infrastructure and implementing investment screening standards.
The resolution aims to strengthen the US-India partnership in defense, technology, economics, and people-to-people ties. It also promotes increased multilateral cooperation with India through various international fora, including the Quad, the East Asia Summit, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Senator John Cornyn is a co-sponsor of the resolution
