New Delhi: China on Monday defended its border patrols and urged India to maintain peace along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier after reports of continuing face-offs between the two countries’ troops. Beijing said it remained committed to bilateral agreements and diplomatic and military communication.
Responding to a question during media briefing, about India blaming Chinese forces for disturbing border peace, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, said China followed bilateral agreements and common understandings. He said its routine patrols aimed to safeguard territorial sovereignty and border stability.
“China and India maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels,” Guo said. He urged India to work with China to implement bilateral understandings and maintain peace through concrete actions.
The response follows remarks by the director general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapur, who acknowledged continuing face-offs with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at several locations along the line of actual control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. His comments highlighted continuing tensions along the eastern frontier.
As RNA Media earlier reported, Kapur outlined measures to strengthen the ITBP’s border capabilities. These include specialized Shaurya commandos, drone units, underground infrastructure and additional combat training.
The remarks come amid reports of confrontations near Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district in late July and early August. Indian security sources had disputed broader claims of territorial encroachment, saying patrol encounters could occur because the boundary remained undemarcated.
India and China have continued military talks to address border issues. Corps commander-level talks took place at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point on September 6, following meetings between local commanders.
The 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held in New Delhi on August 6. According to India’s official readout, both sides agreed to use diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings.
India maintains that peace along the border is essential for improving bilateral relations with China. Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh, which New Delhi considers an integral part of India.