Kiren Rijiju Denies 60km Chinese Incursion in Arunachal Pradesh

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed reports that Chinese forces penetrated 60 kilometers into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, characterizing the claims as misinformation. During visits to remote border areas including Maza, Galemo, and Taksing, Rijiju stated that some viral videos used to support these allegations originated in Bangladesh or other unrelated locations. He warned that spreading such rumors lowers the morale of security forces and creates national confusion.

While denying the capture of Indian villages, Rijiju acknowledged that Chinese military activity has increased on top ridgelines. He attributed these tensions to a lack of formal border demarcation along the Line of Actual Control, which leads to competing territorial claims. He noted that the People's Liberation Army has controlled certain areas beyond Longju since 1959 and 1962.

Rijiju criticized previous Congress-led administrations for neglecting border infrastructure, citing former Defence Minister A.K. Antony's past policy of keeping border regions underdeveloped. He asserted that the Narendra Modi government has since made border development a top priority, completing strategic roads to Maza and Taksing to counter Chinese infrastructure. The Ministry of External Affairs added that maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control is critical to overall India-China bilateral ties.