Arunachal Pradesh is an "inherent part" of China's land, according to China, despite India's strong objection

China justified the renaming of 15 more locations in Arunachal Pradesh, India's northeastern state, on Friday, alleging that Tibet's southern section is a "inherent component" of its territory.

China renamed 15 locations in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, claiming that the state has "always been" and would "always be" an important part of India, and that assigning "invented" names does not change that fact.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs announced Chinese names for 15 more locations in Arunachal Pradesh that Beijing claims as South Tibet, prompting India's response.

"We have seen such. This is not the first time China has attempted such a renaming of places in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. China had also sought to assign such names in April 2017," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi.

"Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be an integral part of India. Assigning invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not alter this fact," Bagchi said.

When asked about India's claim, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "the southern part of Tibet belongs to the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and it has been China's inherent territories".