BEIJING, Jan 19 � China today reacted sharply to the Japanese Foreign Minister�s remarks about Arunachal Pradesh being part of India, saying it is �seriously concerned� and has lodged a protest with Japan demanding a clarification, reports PTI.
�China has taken note of such report,� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here while replying to a question on Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida�s comments in New Delhi last week.
�We are seriously concerned about this and have lodged solemn representation (diplomatic protest) with the Japanese side, asking Japan to make (a) clarification and immediately remove negative implications arising from this,� Hong said.
Replying to a question during an interaction in New Delhi on January 17 about Japan�s indication that it may not be involved in infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh and whether this was due to China�s position, Kishida had said though his government wanted to improve connectivity in northeast India, there was no plan to provide any aid to the state.
�You specifically pointed out the state Arunachal Pradesh in North Eastern India which is a territory of India which is pending in terms of its dispute with China and for the moment to my understanding there are currently no plans of Japan to provide aid to this state,� he had said.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of Southern Tibet.
