Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected reports that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Indian territory via the Indo-Sino border in Arunachal Pradesh last week.
Rijiju on Monday said that “mere painting of marks in undemarcated locations doesn’t mean the areas have been encroached upon.” The minister also said that although an overlapping of patrolling does take place in the undemarcated areas along the border, it does not translate into incursion.
Did PLA breach the border?
Last week, pictures on social media suggested that PLA soldiers allegedly entered India in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh and camped in the Kapapu area of the district for some time.
Reports claimed that the pictures showed bonfires, painting of rocks and Chinese food materials.
‘Will not allow anyone come near LAC’
Rejecting the reports, the union minister said, “China can’t take our land. Overlapping of patrolling does take place in the undemarcated areas. They are not allowed to construct anything permanent. There is strict vigil from our side. Mere painting of marks in undemarcated locations doesn’t mean the areas have been encroached on.”
Rijiju told PTI that the Indian government is strengthening infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border and will continue doing so to safeguard the interests of India’s security.
“But we will not allow anyone to come near the Line of Actual Control,” he added.
India-China standoff
The latest incident came at a time when the Indian army continues to engage in a stand-off with the PLA in Ladakh. The stand-off has been going on since April 2020.
India shares a 3,400 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh China continues to claim that Arunachal Pradesh has “always been” its territory, a claim India termed as “absurd” and “ludicrous”.
In April 2024, Beijing even went ahead and named as many as 30 locations in Arunachal Pradesh evoking strong response from India.
With inputs from PTI
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‘China can’t take our land’: Kiren Rijiju dismisses reports of PLA incursion in Arunachal Pradesh
