Fresh China incursion in Arunachal? Army says reports are 'incorrect and without any basis'

The Indian Army on Monday rejected reports that alleged fresh encroachment by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Arunachal Pradesh and the setting up of camps across the border region.

In a statement quoted by ANI, the Army said it had seen media reports making those claims and described them as “incorrect and without any basis.”

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The village petition stirs the pot

The response came after the Nah Welfare Society, a community group in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district, submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner alleging an expanded Chinese presence in border areas.

The civil society group identified five locations in a letter dated June 26 and claimed that the PLA had occupied large parts of traditional grazing, hunting, and agricultural land used by the tribal community over the past six years.

On India-China diplomatic engagement

The denial also lands against the backdrop of recent India-China diplomatic engagement. The two sides had just held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing, after which the Ministry of External Affairs said the discussions were constructive and forward-looking.

The meeting reviewed the border situation, and both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas.

On Army Chief's remarks and the broader picture

Earlier in the day, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said in an interview with NDTV that the situation along the Line of Actual Control remained stable but sensitive.

He said the army maintained a robust deployment posture to deter threats and respond to contingencies, while adding that tensions between the two countries had shown signs of easing.

The army's latest statement fits into that broader picture: a firm public rebuttal of the Arunachal encroachment claims, even as the border remains under close watch and civilian concerns continue to surface in frontier districts.

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FAQs

Q1: Why did the Indian Army reject reports of fresh Chinese encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh?

Ans: The Indian Army said the reports alleging fresh Chinese encroachment and new PLA camps in Arunachal Pradesh were "incorrect and without any basis."

Q2: What triggered the controversy over alleged Chinese encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh?

Ans: The issue arose after the Nah Welfare Society claimed that the PLA had occupied parts of traditional tribal land in Upper Subansiri district.