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Kiren Rijiju Rejects China Occupation Claims In Arunachal (Img: X)
New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday clarified that there has been no new Chinese occupation in Arunachal Pradesh, while stating that concerns raised by local residents over grazing areas are genuine and should not be ignored.
In an interview, Rijiju said the issues being highlighted by people living in border regions need to be addressed, but they should not be portrayed as evidence of any fresh territorial encroachment by China.
Rijiju, who belongs to Arunachal Pradesh, said communities living near the border have legitimate concerns regarding access to traditional grazing lands.
“The concerns of local people regarding grazing in the state are valid, but there has been no new Chinese occupation in Arunachal Pradesh,” Rijiju said. The minister emphasised that local grievances and claims of a new Chinese occupation are two different issues and should not be mixed.
The remarks come amid continued sensitivity around Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as part of its territory and refers to as ‘Zangnan’.
India has repeatedly rejected China’s claims, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country. The region has remained a key point of friction between the two nations due to the unresolved India-China border dispute.
Border communities in Arunachal Pradesh have raised concerns over access to grazing areas that have traditionally been used by local residents.
Rijiju acknowledged these concerns and said issues faced by people living in remote border regions must be taken seriously. However, he rejected the suggestion that such developments indicate a new occupation by China.
The minister’s statement comes at a time when developments along the India-China frontier continue to attract attention. Arunachal Pradesh remains strategically important due to its location along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Rijiju’s remarks aimed to draw a clear distinction between legitimate concerns of border residents and reports claiming fresh Chinese territorial expansion in the region. He reiterated that while people’s concerns require attention, there is no evidence of any new Chinese occupation of Arunachal Pradesh.
