India-China Border Tensions: MEA Responds After ITBP Chief Flags Arunachal Face-Offs

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By TRH News Desk

The Ministry of External Affairs says Chinese forces deviating from established patrolling patterns periodically disturb the border situation, as Congress questions the government’s silence and raises concerns over military preparedness and economic dependence on China.

New Delhi, October 23, 2026 — India on Friday acknowledged that the situation along the India-China border gets disturbed periodically when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns, following remarks by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapur about recent face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the specifics of the ITBP chief’s comments should be addressed by the Ministry of Defence. He reiterated that both countries continued to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“The maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” Jaiswal said, adding that the two sides had agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to strengthen border management.

Kapur had said that face-offs had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh in recent days and that the situation was continuing. He also highlighted the growing importance of modern technology, including drones, in addressing the military challenges posed by China’s extensive defence modernisation.

The remarks have drawn political attention because they appear to signal renewed friction along the northern border after a period without comparable public disclosures.

Congress questions government’s China policy

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh criticised the Modi government, alleging that it had remained silent on the recent face-offs while making concessions to China.

Ramesh said the ITBP chief had rightly praised the performance of Indian personnel during encounters with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), but argued that the government had failed to adequately explain the developments.

He referred to reports of corps commander-level talks at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh following a face-off at Taksing. He also raised concerns over alleged losses of patrolling access, Chinese renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a major dam that, he said, posed risks to India’s ecological and water security.

Ramesh further cited India’s trade deficit with China, which he said had reached a record $112 billion in 2025–26, compared with $99 billion in the previous financial year. He argued that the widening imbalance threatened domestic manufacturing and undermined the government’s Make in India initiative.

Galwan remarks and military preparedness

The Congress leader again criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 2020 remarks following the Galwan Valley clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. He argued that the government’s handling of the episode had weakened India’s position.

Ramesh also referred to remarks attributed to former Army chief General M. M. Naravane about the instructions he received during the Ladakh crisis, as well as differing public assessments by military officials concerning China’s role in Pakistan’s military campaign during Operation Sindoor.

The latest exchange highlights the continuing tension between the government’s emphasis on diplomatic and military mechanisms for managing the LAC and the opposition’s demand for greater transparency over border developments.