New Delhi, March 14 -- India has rejected China's contention that Arunachal Pradesh, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a major infrastructure project last week, is part of Chinese territory and said such claims will not change the reality that the state is part of the country.

This was the latest war of words between the two sides over the strategic northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing has for long claimed as "Zangnan" or South Tibet. China traditionally bristles over visits to the region by top Indian leaders but such reactions are usually brushed aside by New Delhi.

"We reject the comments made by the Chinese side regarding the visit of the Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh. Indian leaders visit Arunac...