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Google shows Assam as part of China
After showing Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir as part of China, the website has now set its sight on Assam
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A screenshot of the latest satellite images released on Google Earth showing Assam as a part of China
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IT SEEMS that Google Earth is still confused about India’s border with China. After showing Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir as part of China, the website has now turned to Assam. The latest satellite images released on Google Earth shows Assam as a part of the land of dragons. This goof-up by Google may once again flare up tension between the neighbours since China had opposed the recent visit of defence minister AK Antony to Arunachal Pradesh.
Seven Sisters Post, a Guwahati-based English daily, first published the pictures published on Google Earth. The Assam government on Monday brought the matter to New Delhi’s notice. Google Earth shows a thin red line marked as China Claim Line passing over areas of north bank of Brahmaputra in Assam, giving an impression of these areas being Chinese territory.
A detailed view shows that the China Claim Line emerges from the eastern border of Bhutan with Assam and runs over the areas of Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh. Prominent areas on Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border like Gohpur and Banderdewa have been shown as a part of China on Google Earth.
China lays claim on 90,000 sq km area in the entire Northeast — the lion’s share is in Arunachal Pradesh — about 83,700 sq km. This area has been marked on Google Earth as China Claim Line.
India recognises the McMahon Line as the legal international Sino-Indian border. McMahon Line is the outcome of the Simla Accord between the British Raj and Tibet, but China opposes it claiming that Tibetan government was not sovereign and had no powers and authority for signing such a treaty.
This has led to prolonged border disputes between the two neighbours including the 1962 war. In 2009, Google Earth goofed up to show Arunachal Pradesh as a part of China raising a huge controversy. Again in 2011 Google fumbled to show Jammu and Kashmir as part of the eastern neighbour.
“We have taken note of the matter; it is a question of territorial integrity. We will take it up with the Centre,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati.
In the past three years, Sino-Indian relations have seen a lot of turbulence over the issue with China claiming parts of Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.
Thus tensions have been mounting over issues of intrusion, diversion of Brahmaputra waters, stapled visas from China for Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh and J&K and aid to Indian Maoists and Northeast insurgent groups including the United Liberation Front of Asom led by Paresh Baruah.
New Delhi very recently had a showdown with Beijing when the Chinese opposed the recent visit of defence minister AK Antony to Arunachal Pradesh.
Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka.
ratnadip@tehelka.com
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