Indian Army Rubbishes Claims of Chinese Encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian Army has categorically dismissed media reports claiming that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently set up military camps or encroached upon Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, labelling the allegations as "incorrect and without any basis."

The robust denial, issued late on Monday night, came in response to reports circulating earlier in the day. These reports, which cited a local organisation, alleged that Chinese forces had gradually expanded infrastructure inside Indian territory near the Taksing circle in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district.

Allegations of Border Incursions
According to the reports, a local group had submitted a detailed memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Upper Subansiri district. The document alleged that the PLA had constructed roads, bridges, and military camps in areas traditionally utilised by local communities for: Cattle grazing, hunting and collecting forest produce.

The memorandum further claimed that these Chinese activities had intensified over the past 10 to 15 years, with a sharp spike observed after the 2020 Galwan standoff. However, the Army has flatly rejected these claims.

'Stable But Sensitive'
The development coincides with remarks from the outgoing Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, who characterised the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as "stable" but "sensitive."

"Whenever local issues arise due to differing perceptions of the LAC, they are addressed through military-to-military interactions, hotlines, flag meetings, and commander-level engagements," Gen Dwivedi told news agency ANI.

Gen Dwivedi emphasised that well-established diplomatic and military mechanisms are actively managing the border. To prevent misunderstandings and resolve routine issues, the two militaries hold more than 1,100 ground-level interactions annually. He credited recent disengagement agreements with significantly improving ground-level stability, noting that both sides are showing greater responsiveness to each other's concerns.

Diplomatic Progress
This push towards stability is backed by ongoing diplomatic channels. On 27 May, India and China held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the talks as constructive and forward-looking. In a subsequent press release, the MEA stated that both nations reviewed the border situation and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquillity, paving the way for the gradual normalisation of bilateral ties.