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Updated: Oct 31, 2019 02:17 IST

The US administration on Wednesday said the American ambassador’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh highlights its support for Indian sovereignty, a message apparently aimed at China which claims most of the northeastern state.

US envoy Kenneth Juster’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, where he inaugurated the Tawang Festival on Monday, could upset China. A similar visit in 2016 by then US ambassador Richard Verma had sparked a terse exchange between New Delhi and Beijing.

Alice Wells, the Trump administration’s pointperson for South Asia, tweeted on Wednesday: .@USAmbIndia’s #Tawang visit highlights resolute U.S. support for Indian sovereignty and commitment to local partnerships. She said US funding supports joint public health and social sciences activities in Arunachal Pradesh.

.@USAmbIndia's #Tawang visit highlights resolute U.S. support for Indian sovereignty and commitment to local partnerships. U.S. funding supports joint public health and social sciences work in #Arunachal by @USouthFlorida and Rajiv Gandhi University. AGW https://t.co/9ii4yW5Ks2 — State_SCA (@State_SCA) October 30, 2019

Juster said in a separate tweet that it was an honour for him to be the chief guest at the Tawang Festival and to inaugurate its seventh edition. He used the hash tag #USIndiaDosti in several tweets about his visit.

China views any high-profile visits to Arunachal Pradesh by foreign dignitaries or the Dalai Lama with considerable wariness, and has even protested to India about such trips in the past.

Wonderful visit to the Tawang street carnival. Very impressed by Tawang’s rich cultural heritage. Great fun for all involved. #IncredibleIndia pic.twitter.com/XZGTU9r9Ii — Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) October 29, 2019

Juster’s visit has been full of symbolism. Over the past few days, he has travelled to the Urgelling Gompa in Tawang, where the sixth Dalai Lama was born, and interacted with Buddhist monks and nuns at Sera Jey and Tawang monasteries and Brahmadung-Chung Ani Gompa nunnery.

Such an honor to be Chief Guest at the Tawang Festival and inaugurate the seventh edition of this wonderful celebration. #USIndiaDosti pic.twitter.com/LixURlLGON — Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) October 29, 2019

Thank you to Chief Minister @PemaKhanduBJP and @KirenRijiju, India’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, for warmly welcoming me and my colleagues to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. #USIndiaDosti pic.twitter.com/H0SF2tOBdI — Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) October 29, 2019

At several events, he was joined by Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who also welcomed him to the state on his arrival. China claims some 90,000 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as South Tibet.