Singapore, March 24 (HBTV): Strongly deploring China's claims on the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed on Saturday that the north-eastern state is part of India.

Referring to Beijing's claims as "ludicrous", the minister said Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India because it is a part of the country, and not only because a foreign country says so. 

The minister, who is in Singapore as part of his three-nation visit, was speaking at the Institute of South Asian Studies of National University of Singapore on his book 'Why Bharat Matters'.  

Responding to a question during the event, Jaishankar said it is not a new issue. He said China has laid claims, and expanded its claims. The claims are ludicrous to begin with, and they remain ludicrous today, the minister said. And Arunachal Pradesh is part of India because it is part of India, not because some other country says it is part of India, the minister declared. 

"So, I think we have been very clear, very consistent on this. And this is something that will be part of the boundary discussion which are taking place," he added.  

Recently, China again came up with its claim over the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Terming the Indian state as "Zangan--an inherent part of China's territory," the Chinese Defence Ministry said that Beijing "never acknowledges and firmly opposes" the "so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India."  

Following this, India again rejected the "absurd claims" and "baseless arguments" while asserting that the northeastern state is an "integral and inalienable part of India."

The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official statement today, noted that the people of Arunachal Pradesh will "continue to benefit" from India's development programs and infrastructure projects. 

Speaking further at the event, Jaishankar slammed China for disturbing the foundation of 'equilibrium' at the border with the 2020 border standoff. 

"It came as a great surprise to us when the Chinese in 2020, chose to do something on the border, which were completely violative (sic) of the agreements we had reached. So, instead of solidifying the foundation for an equilibrium, they went and disturbed the foundation," Jaishankar said.

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.