There is no ongoing “slow encroachment” by China into Arunachal Pradesh, as alleged in some social media posts, sources said on Tuesday, asserting that the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are adequately deployed and equipped to maintain surveillance and dominate the frontier. The clarification comes amid renewed claims on social media regarding Chinese activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Sources dismissed sweeping allegations of fresh encroachment and said such claims should be supported by specific locations and verifiable evidence.
China has historically laid claim to Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as “South Tibet”. Sources pointed out that Beijing had articulated its territorial claims during India-China border talks in 1960, when it laid claim to around 69,000 sq km of territory in what is now Arunachal Pradesh. They also referred to the 1959 incident at Longju, where Chinese forces attacked an Assam Rifles post and subsequently took control of the area. Longju has remained under adverse possession, and Chinese infrastructure development in the area has periodically attracted attention. During the 1962 India-China war, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) carried out major operations across several sectors, including the Kameng, Subansiri, Siyom, Siang and Lohit valleys. Following the ceasefire, Chinese forces withdrew to positions north of the LAC, according to the sources.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a long and strategically sensitive frontier with Tibet along the Great Himalayan range. With India and China yet to arrive at a mutually agreed demarcation of the boundary, differences in perception of the LAC can occasionally result in face-offs between patrols.
Sources said such incidents are handled through established mechanisms and protocols agreed upon by the two countries. They maintained that these encounters should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of territorial encroachment, particularly without details identifying the location or circumstances involved. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had also rejected reports of Chinese military encroachment last week, saying the Indian Army was effectively patrolling and safeguarding the country's territory.
Sources said improvements in infrastructure on the Indian side in recent years have strengthened the ability of security forces to patrol remote stretches and maintain surveillance along the frontier. The Army and ITBP remain deployed along the border and are prepared to monitor Chinese activities and maintain India's presence in sensitive areas. Better roads and other infrastructure have also improved access to previously difficult terrain, allowing security personnel to undertake more effective patrolling and surveillance operations.
Sources cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified social media posts, saying allegations concerning the sensitive border region should be assessed on the basis of specific and verifiable facts rather than generalised claims.
The latest clarification comes against the backdrop of continuing differences between New Delhi and Beijing over Arunachal Pradesh. China has repeatedly attempted to reinforce its territorial claims, including by assigning Chinese names to places in the state. India has consistently rejected such moves, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country. The Centre recently identified 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh by their standard names on India's official map, a move aimed at ensuring accurate identification of the places and improving public awareness of their geographical and historical significance.
Against this backdrop, security sources maintained that there was no evidence supporting claims of a gradual Chinese takeover of territory in Arunachal Pradesh and stressed that Indian forces remain positioned to safeguard the frontier.