China says India border 'generally stable' amid tensions in Arunachal

China stated on Wednesday that the conditions along the India-China frontier are "generally stable at present," without validating claims of heightened Chinese military engagement in contentious locales close to Arunachal Pradesh. The remarks were made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, during a routine press conference in Beijing in response to queries regarding videos that surfaced on Indian social media, allegedly depicting intensified military activity on the border.

Guo emphasized that China and India convened for their 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs the preceding week. He further disclosed that both nations had opted to sustain dialogue through diplomatic and military means, striving to uphold peace and tranquillity along the border.

These remarks emerged a day following India reaffirming that the border with China remains a matter of grave concern, and upholding peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control is crucial for the overall relationship between the two countries. This reaction also transpired amidst reports of enhanced military activity by Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri area.

China asserts Arunachal Pradesh as part of its "South Tibet," a claim that New Delhi persistently rejects. India had previously contested China's objections to its official designation of 27 locations and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh by their recognized Indian names, asserting that the region is "inalienable and integral" to India.

The latest confrontations follow India and China's endeavors to stabilize ties, which severely fractured after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes and an extended military impasse along the border. The two countries concluded a disengagement agreement addressing the remaining disputes at Depsang and Demchok in October 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping subsequently engaged in talks in Kazan, followed by additional diplomatic initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.