Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected allegations that China has recently taken control of an Indian village in Arunachal Pradesh, while noting that the lack of precise boundary demarcation in some regions has led to overlapping territorial claims along the border.
In an interview with news agency IANS, Rijiju said there was "confusion" in certain areas because both Indian villagers and residents on the Chinese side assert that their territory stretches further across the border. He stated that the situation should not be portrayed as China having advanced 60 km into Arunachal Pradesh.
Rijiju stated that a settlement-style structure built by China near Longju stands in a region that Chinese forces took control of in 1959 and where they further strengthened their presence in 1962. He noted that India also maintains a post at this border location, but movement between the two countries in the area has been halted since the 1962 war.
However, he noted a rise in Chinese military operations along the high ridges in the area and stated that the concerns voiced by local villagers about this activity are valid and must be taken seriously.
Rijiju also condemned what he described as misinformation regarding Chinese incursions, claiming that unrelated images from Bangladesh and other locations had been used to back allegations of a 60-km Chinese advance into Arunachal Pradesh.
