China says border with India ‘generally stable’ amid Arunachal tensions

China on Wednesday described the situation along its disputed border with India as “generally stable”, even as fresh concerns over Chinese military activity in Arunachal Pradesh and a dispute over the naming of places in the state put renewed strain on bilateral ties. Beijing’s comments came a day after India stressed that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the overall relationship between the two countries. New Delhi has maintained that developments along the frontier inevitably have consequences for broader India-China ties.

Beijing plays down tensions

Responding to questions about recent developments, China’s foreign ministry said the border situation was stable overall and that Beijing and New Delhi remained in communication through diplomatic and military channels. China, however, did not directly address reports about an increased presence of Chinese troops in areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh.

Reports had claimed that Chinese troops crossed the LAC and established temporary tents near Pukar La and Ollo in the Taksing circle of Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district. Indian defence officials have described the reports as unsubstantiated. The developments have emerged at a time when India and China have been attempting to stabilise their relationship following years of military tensions along the LAC.

The two sides recently held another round of border consultations and agreed to maintain communication aimed at preserving peace and tranquillity in the frontier areas.

Arunachal dispute resurfaces

Tensions have also risen over competing claims involving Arunachal Pradesh. India recently formally identified and mapped 27 places in the state, drawing objections from Beijing. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of what it calls “Zangnan” or southern Tibet and has repeatedly sought to assign Chinese names to locations in the Indian state.

India has consistently rejected Beijing’s territorial claims and its attempts to rename places, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country. New Delhi reiterated that position this week following China's latest objections. The renewed friction comes despite a gradual improvement in relations following the military disengagement process that began after years of confrontation in eastern Ladakh.

India and China reached an agreement in 2024 on patrolling arrangements in remaining friction areas, paving the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and efforts to rebuild diplomatic engagement.

However, New Delhi has continued to emphasise that a sustained improvement in bilateral relations depends on peace along the frontier. The latest exchanges underline that the unresolved boundary remains one of the most sensitive issues between the two Asian powers, even as both sides seek to restore political and diplomatic engagement after the prolonged military standoff.