Key facts
- Chinese troops pitched tents six to seven kilometers inside India's perception of the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The border dispute between India and China dates back to the British colonial rule and led to a war in 1962.
- The last major escalation was in June 2020, resulting in at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers killed.
- Bilateral trade between India and China reached $151 billion last year, with China's exports to India accounting for about $131 billion.
India and China are experiencing a fragile thaw in relations following clashes in 2020, but recent comments by India's border police chief have reignited tensions. Shatrujeet Singh Kapur, director general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, stated that Chinese troops had entered territory claimed by India in large numbers earlier this year, pitching tents several kilometers inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. These remarks have triggered a political controversy in Delhi, with opposition parties accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of making concessions to Beijing. The Indian government has acknowledged that border situations can become disturbed by Chinese patrolling pattern deviations, while China maintains adherence to agreements. Experts suggest Kapur's comments offer a rare insight into China's assertive military posture along the disputed frontier, which remains a persistent challenge due to overlapping territorial claims and the difficult terrain.