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India sounded a caution that the situation along its disputed border with China will have a direct bearing on the broader bilateral relationship, amid reports of a fresh military face-off in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday described border-related issues as “most serious” and stressed that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain critical to the development of India-China ties.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not deny reports of a fresh incident in Arunachal Pradesh when asked about the reported military situation. Instead, he pointed to the latest meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-
China border affairs, where New Delhi reiterated its position.
“We consider these issues as most serious, and the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in these areas is of the utmost importance,” Jaiswal said.
He added that India has consistently made clear that “the state of the border affairs will reflect on the state of our larger bilateral ties”.
The remarks assume significance amid social media posts by Indian content creators alleging increased Chinese activity in Arunachal Pradesh. The claims could not be independently verified.
A fact-finding committee deputed by the People’s Party of Arunachal has also alleged that Chinese PLA troops have restricted Indian access to key patrolling points in the Taksing area of Upper Subansiri district and expanded their presence around traditional grazing and hunting grounds along the LAC.
The Defence Ministry and the Army did not respond to requests for comment.
Jaiswal said the 36th WMCC meeting, held on August 6, saw “frank discussions” on the situation along the LAC. Both sides agreed to continue using established diplomatic and military mechanisms, including the WMCC and local commander-level meetings, to resolve outstanding issues and prevent “misunderstanding and miscalculation”.
The timing is significant. The latest border concerns come shortly after Indian and Chinese officials held talks in New Delhi and ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India for the BRICS summit.
The reported developments underline the fragility of the recent thaw in ties. India has gradually resumed engagement with Beijing following years of tensions triggered by the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi met in Tianjin last August, signalling an effort to stabilise relations.
But China expert Tanvi Madan at Washington’s Brookings Institution noted that reports of a fresh face-off would not be unprecedented, particularly around high-level meetings or visits.
In a post on X on August 12, Madan said the MEA’s response did not deny the reported military situation in Arunachal Pradesh. She also pointed to the timing, with the next round of Special Representatives’ talks due and Xi expected to travel to India for the BRICS summit.
Madan also noted the wider strategic context, including the perception that Beijing may not be feeling significant pressure from Washington at a time when US-India ties are themselves facing strains.
India and China share a 3,488-km-long, largely undemarcated border. Despite the recent diplomatic thaw, the frontier remains the biggest obstacle to a sustained improvement in bilateral relations.
New Delhi’s latest message is clear: engagement with Beijing can expand, but the border remains the key test of the relationship.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
