India stated on Friday that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) becomes disturbed whenever Chinese troops “diverge from established patrolling patterns,” reiterating that peace and tranquillity on the border are crucial for bilateral relations.
The remarks were made by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a regular media briefing, addressing comments made by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur. DG Kapur had revealed while addressing troops in Alwar, Rajasthan, that ongoing face-offs with Chinese forces had occurred at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
ITBP Deployments and Arunachal Pradesh Face-Offs
According to DG Kapur, a newly formed elite ITBP unit—the Shaurya commandos—was successfully mobilized during these ongoing face-offs. He also noted that the ITBP has established drone platoons across all border units and prepared a new “strike course” to handle intensive engagements similar to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Reports indicate that tensions had previously erupted between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Taksing, a remote area in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district, during July and August. Following these developments, military commanders held their first round of talks in the eastern sector on September 6 and 7, just days prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS Summit on September 12–13.
Diplomatic Engagement and Broader Bilateral Challenges
While MEA spokesperson Jaiswal did not directly reference Kapur’s briefing, he acknowledged that Chinese forces moving away from established patrolling routes remains the primary catalyst for border disruptions. He emphasized that both nations continue to utilize existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and prevent miscalculations along the LAC.
These border tensions emerge as both countries attempt to rebuild diplomatic and economic ties following the prolonged military standoff in Ladakh that began in April-May 2020 and concluded with an understanding reached in October 2024. Beyond border management, India continues to address other bilateral friction points with China, including export restrictions on heavy machinery like tunnel boring machines, market access limitations, a widening trade deficit, and curbs on business visas.
