# ITBP chief confirms face-offs with Chinese troops in Arunachal; MEA blames patrol deviations

Conflict & Security · 23 October 2026 · Arunachal Pradesh, India
URL: https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-23-itbp-chief-confirms-face-offs-with-chinese-troops-in-arunachal-mea

> ITBP chief Shatrujeet Kapur said face-offs with Chinese troops continue at several points in Arunachal Pradesh, and the MEA said Chinese departures from patrol patterns disturb the border.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Kapur said on 22 October that Indian and Chinese forces were in face-offs at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh. "In the past few days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues," he said at the force's Himveer Samman Samaroh in Alwar, Rajasthan. Reports called it the first public acknowledgement by a senior security official that the confrontations were continuing. [1][2][3]

Kapur did not name the locations. Citing government sources, The Hindu reported that the most prominent stand-off has been at Asaphila near Taksing in Upper Subansiri district since late July, with PLA personnel pitching tents about 6 to 7 km inside India's perception of the Line of Actual Control near Maja, and that India has increased its deployment there. Kapur said the newly raised Shaurya commandos played an exemplary role. [1][2]

At its weekly briefing on 23 October, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the situation "gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns", and that both sides use diplomatic and military mechanisms and had agreed to discuss improving understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas. He referred operational questions to the Defence Ministry. The two sides held corps commander-level talks at Wacha-Damai in Arunachal Pradesh on 6 and 7 September. [1][3]

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked the government to explain the confrontations and say whether Indian patrolling rights had been restored, and Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "deafening silence". CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said forces were being used against protesters in Delhi instead of guarding the border. [1][2][3]

## Who was involved

- [Shatrujeet Kapur](https://connectthedots.news/person/shatrujeet-kapur): Confirmed continuing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh [1][3]
- [Indo-Tibetan Border Police](https://connectthedots.news/org/indo-tibetan-border-police): Force involved in the face-offs; its Shaurya commandos were deployed [1][2]
- [Randhir Jaiswal](https://connectthedots.news/person/randhir-jaiswal): Said Chinese patrol deviations disturb the border [3]
- [People's Liberation Army](https://connectthedots.news/org/peoples-liberation-army): Chinese side in the stand-offs, per government sources [1][2]
- [Mallikarjun Kharge](https://connectthedots.news/person/mallikarjun-kharge): Demanded the government explain the confrontations [3]
- [Jairam Ramesh](https://connectthedots.news/person/jairam-ramesh): Criticised Modi's silence on the face-offs [1][2]

## Sources

1. The Wire, "Face-Offs with Chinese Troops Under Way at Several Points in Arunachal, Says ITBP Chief", 23 October 2026: https://m.thewire.in/article/security/face-offs-with-chinese-troops-under-way-at-several-points-in-arunachal-says-itbp-chief
2. Outlook, "India-China Border Tensions: Face-Offs Continue At Multiple Sites In Arunachal Pradesh, Says ITBP Chief", 23 October 2026: https://www.outlookindia.com/national/india-china-border-tensions-face-offs-continue-at-multiple-sites-in-arunachal-pradesh-says-itbp-chief-2
3. PTI via NewsDrum, "Chinese patrol deviations disturb border situation, MEA says after ITBP chief's Arunachal disclosure", 23 October 2026: https://www.newsdrum.in/national/chinese-patrol-deviations-disturb-border-situation-mea-says-after-itbp-chiefs-arunachal-disclosure-12742812