Shanghai: China said on Friday it had lodged an official protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to a border region claimed by both countries.
China disputes the entire territory of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it south Tibet. Its historic town Tawang, a key site for Tibetan Buddhism, was briefly occupied by Chinese forces during a 1962 war.
"The Chinese government has never recognized the so-called `Arunachal Pradesh`," a statement on the Chinese Foreign Ministry`s website said on Friday.
It said Modi`s visit was "not conducive to the overall development of bilateral relations".
Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh on Friday to inaugurate the opening of a train line and power station.
In January, China objected to statements by Japan`s foreign ministry supporting India`s claim to the region.
A visit by U.S. president Barack Obama to India in January was widely seen as a sign Modi is moving closer to the United States to offset rising Chinese influence in Asia and in particular intensifying activity by the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean.
