New Delhi: The Army has rejected reports alleging that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have encroached into Arunachal Pradesh and established military camps inside Indian territory, calling the claims “incorrect and without any basis.”
This came after media reports cited a memorandum submitted by a community organisation in Arunachal Pradesh alleging that Chinese forces had gradually expanded their presence in remote border areas of the state over the past several years.
“We have seen some media reports alleging recent encroachment by the Chinese PLA and setting up of camps in Arunachal Pradesh. These reports are incorrect and without any basis,” the Indian Army said.
The Nah Welfare Society (NWS), a community-based organisation from Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district, submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner alleging that the PLA had established camps inside Indian territory near the India-China border, as reported by India Today.
The organisation claimed that Chinese troops had steadily expanded their presence over the last 10 to 15 years by occupying areas along the border in the Taksing circle, in its letter dated June 26, 2024.
Roads, bridges and military camps had been built in locations traditionally used by local residents for hunting, cattle grazing and collecting forest produce, the NWS claimed.
It identified five locations — Oying, Paniar in the Chujarta area, Marpan (Marnafe), Potrang Lake and Tindingtang (TG) — which it claimed had come under Chinese occupation since 2020. The organisation also alleged that some of the sites were located close to Taksing headquarters and held cultural and religious significance for local communities.
The organisation urged both the Arunachal Pradesh government and the Centre to intervene immediately to prevent what it described as further Chinese activities in the border region. While expressing confidence in the Indian Army’s commitment to protecting the frontier, the memorandum argued that stronger action was needed to safeguard what it described as Indian territory.
It also requested the district administration to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities and included photographs that the organisation said supported its claims.
The Indian Army’s statement, however, rejected the reports of recent Chinese encroachment and the establishment of PLA camps in Arunachal Pradesh, without going into detail.
Incidentally, the contents of the letter were made public weeks after India and China held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the discussions had been “constructive and forward-looking.”
Both sides reviewed the situation along the India-China border and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquillity, which had helped advance the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations, the ministry said.
Border management, delimitation, confidence-building mechanisms and cross-border cooperation were also discussed. India additionally stressed the need for an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-Border Rivers.
