evidence: But the position of Tawang, on the flanks of the Tibetan plateau, and its cultural affinity to Lhasa is at the root of a decades-old dispute between India and China. Historically, China says, the region was part of outer Tibet, an area the size of Austria. Today it is known as the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh - but China lays claim to it in its entirety. [...] However, those hopes have been dashed by aggressive volleys of claim and counter-claim ahead of the historic meeting. China's ambassador to India, Sun Yuxi, told Indian television last week: "In our position the whole of what you call the state of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory and Tawang is only one place in it and we are claiming all of that. That's our position." In Delhi, India's foreign minister tersely responded by reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh was an "integral part of India". Sonia Gandhi, president of India's ruling Congress party, visited Tawang recently to emphasise India's grip on the town.