MEA cites Chinese patrol deviations after ITBP chief confirms Arunachal face-offs

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday stated that the situation along the India-China border gets disturbed when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns. The statement followed a public admission by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief regarding ongoing military face-offs with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Arunachal Pradesh [1, 3, 5].

Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to delve into the specifics of the latest confrontations, referring technical queries to the Ministry of Defence. “As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns,” Jaiswal said [1, 4, 5]. He emphasised that both nations are utilising existing diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues and prevent miscalculations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) [3, 4].

The MEA’s remarks came a day after ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur confirmed at an Alwar base in Rajasthan that Indian and Chinese troops remain locked in confrontations at select locations in Arunachal Pradesh. Kapur praised the newly raised ‘Shaurya’ commando units for their handling of the situations, even as he acknowledged the persistent friction along the 3,488-km LAC [1, 3].

Highlighting the evolving nature of high-altitude warfare, Kapur noted that conventional resources are insufficient against the modernised PLA. To counter this, the ITBP has integrated drone platoons across all its border units. Of the Rs 400 crore allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the force's modernisation, 70 per cent is earmarked specifically for upgrading drone warfare capabilities.

Kapur asserted that the ITBP must redefine itself as a specialised high-altitude fighting force. The force is also raising additional ‘Shaurya’ commando platoons trained in mountain warfare, new-generation weapons, and unarmed combat to better manage the challenging terrain and adversary capabilities [1, 3].

The ground realities along the LAC present a complex challenge to the broader diplomatic narrative. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during their 2024 meeting in Kazan to work towards a fair resolution of the boundary question, and recently finalised a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh, friction persists in the eastern sector [1, 4]. Jaiswal reiterated that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas remains essential for the overall development of bilateral relations, underscoring the delicate balance New Delhi must maintain between border management and diplomatic engagement [3, 4].

The disclosure has also triggered political debate in New Delhi. Citing the ITBP chief’s remarks, the Congress party questioned the government on whether the pre-May 2020 status quo has been restored in Ladakh and whether Indian patrols can access border points like Shera-5 in Arunachal Pradesh. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera demanded an all-party delegation visit the border regions to verify the ground situation, setting the stage for continued parliamentary scrutiny over the handling of the northern frontier.