Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly dismissed claims alleging that China has intruded 60 kilometers into Indian territory in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs clarified that videos and statements circulated on social media asserting such a massive ingress are completely false and misleading. He emphasized that India and China share an extensive border along Arunachal Pradesh that lacks full and clear demarcation on the ground. Across numerous sectors, physical boundary pillars are absent, and the border line has not been explicitly marked on the terrain. Rijiju noted that this is a long-standing issue and that asserting deep intrusions without understanding the ground reality is factually incorrect.
Lack of Border Demarcation and Local Concerns
Rijiju explained that border-related challenges in several locations of Arunachal Pradesh are not new, stressing the need to comprehend the root cause of these issues. He acknowledged that concerns expressed by local villagers residing in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh are genuine because formal delimitation has not been finalized on the ground. However, leveraging this lack of clear physical delineation to spread claims of a 60-kilometer Chinese push into Indian territory distorts the facts. He urged that local geographical uncertainties should not be confused with unhindered foreign military advances.
Infrastructure Gap and Policy Shift Since 2014
Addressing the historical background of border development, the Union Minister recalled that China initiated the construction of roads and infrastructure on its side of the border much earlier. At that time, India was governed by the Congress party. Rijiju referenced a statement made in Parliament by then Defense Minister A.K. Antony, who had explicitly stated that India's policy was not to develop infrastructure in certain border zones, whereas China continuously expanded its assets. This legacy left India at a strategic disadvantage for decades.
However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi starting in 2014, India fundamentally transformed its border policy. The government prioritized and accelerated infrastructure development on the Indian side of the frontier. Sharing his personal observations, Rijiju mentioned visiting the last border point village himself, where he interacted directly with personnel from the Indian Armed Forces and border security units. He highlighted that while proper road access to remote border posts was lacking for decades after independence, connectivity was rapidly established under the current administration, including robust road access to Taksing, which was successfully completed in 2019.
Historical Dispute Beyond Longju and Current Security Posture
Elaborating further on the operational dynamics, Rijiju pointed out that during the period when India lacked adequate road networks and China had already established its infrastructure, the Chinese military expanded its presence in certain upper reaches and erected border structures. He underscored that this does not mean Chinese forces have occupied existing Indian villages. Today, patrolling by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has become significantly stronger and more vigilant than in previous years.
Regarding the valley region beyond Longju where structures and village-like buildings erected by the Chinese PLA are visible, Rijiju provided crucial historical context. He stated that this specific area has been subject to an old dispute, with China occupying the land in 1959 and consolidating its positions during the 1962 conflict. At present, India maintains its own forward post right at the border point, and normal civilian movement between India and China across that line remains entirely closed.
Protecting Military Dignity and Avoiding Political Disputes
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister concluded by urging political entities to refrain from involving the armed forces in partisan controversies. He stressed that the military safeguards the nation's integrity and must not be dragged into political disputes. Rijiju expressed strong disapproval of derogatory language used by certain Congress leaders against senior military leadership, specifically condemning terms such as sadak chhap directed at an Army General. He advised opposition leaders to reflect seriously on their choice of words and maintain decorum when referring to the armed forces.
