PLA’s patrolling behaviour keeps LAC disturbed, Govt. says

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File | Photo Credit: ANI

The situation in the India-China border areas “gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (October 23, 2026). The statement comes after the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director-General said confrontations with Chinese troops continue to take place at multiple sites along the border in Arunachal Pradesh.

“As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns,” Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the MEA, said.

He added that both sides continue to use “existing diplomatic and military mechanisms” to resolve outstanding issues and “avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)”.

Speaking at the bi-weekly media briefing, Mr. Jaiswal also said the two sides have agreed to discuss ways to “improve understanding of LAC in appropriate areas” for better border management.” He emphasised that the “maintenance of peace and tranquillity” in the border areas is essential for the “overall development of bilateral relations”.

“Insofar as the specifics are concerned, I would refer you to the Ministry of Defence,” he added.

On Thursday (October 22, 2026), ITBP D-G Shatrujeet Kapur said: “In the past few-days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues.” He was speaking at the Himveer Samman Samaroah, an annual felicitation ceremony for ITBP personnel.

This was the first official confirmation of the scale of the rising tensions on the north-eastern border since July this year.

Since late July, India and China have been engaged in a stand-off at Asaphila near Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh, The Hindu’s report cites government sources as saying. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have pitched their tents at an elevation, within 6 km to 7 km of India’s perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), near the Maja company operating base in Taksing circle of Upper Subansiri district, sources said.

India has also increased deployment along the border, the report added.

Published - October 23, 2026 06:49 pm IST