India rejects Chinese intrusion reports on disputed border

India on Wednesday dismissed reports of a Chinese intrusion along the countries' disputed Himalayan frontier, after the opposition Congress party voiced concern over local media reports of renewed border tensions.

Kiren Rijiju, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party who represents Arunachal Pradesh in parliament, rejected suggestions that Chinese troops had moved deep into Indian territory in the remote northeastern state.

“If someone says that China has come in 60 kilometres inside India, that is not correct, and one shouldn't say it,” Rijiju said in a video posted on X. “So, it is not like they came and captured our village.”

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet. India says the state is an integral part of its territory.

Rijiju said differing perceptions of the border alignment often caused confusion because the long India-China boundary has not been demarcated. He acknowledged that China had increased its military presence in border areas, but said India was strengthening infrastructure and patrol capabilities along the frontier.

India's foreign ministry said last week that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas remained of “utmost importance” in discussions with China. China's foreign ministry has said the border situation is “generally stable” at present.

The remarks came ahead of a BRICS summit in New Delhi next month that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend.