India has responded to reports of China building a village in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and said that it is keeping a “constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security”.
On Monday, news reports surfaced that China has allegedly built a village on the banks of River Tsari Chu in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The village reportedly consists of 101 homes and encroaches approximately 4.5 kilometres into Indian territory.
The Chinese village in Arunachal Pradesh reportedly came up around the time India and China clashed in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in June 2020.
The reports have also cited satellite imagery which shows a development cropping up in the region.
Reacting to the reports, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We have seen recent reports on China undertaking construction work along the border areas with India. China has undertaken such infrastructure construction activity in the past several years.”
The MEA added that in response India has stepped up infrastructure work in border areas including the construction of roads, bridges etc, “which has provided much-needed connectivity to the local population along the border”.
“The government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh,” the MEA statement added.
Warning China to not indulge in activities that harm India’s sovereignty, the MEA said, “The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”