China has transgressed 50 km: Arunachal MP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19

Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao, who is also the president of state BJP chief, today said China has “occupied” some 50 km of Indian territory and expressed fears that a “Doklam-type situation” may occur in the far eastern state.

This is the second time in two months that Gao has flagged the matter about Chinese incursions. Today while speaking during ‘zero hour’ in the Lok Sabha, the MP from East Arunachal Pradesh said: “If a repeat of Doklam takes place, it will happen in Arunachal Pradesh because China has encroached upon 50-60 km of our territory in the state,” he claimed.

Please don’t allow the next Doklam in Arunachal Pradesh. Whenever the President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister or Home Minister visit the state, objections are raised by China, he said raising the issue during Zero Hour.

He said China raised objections by conducting an official press conference when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Tawang area of the state on November 14, 2019. This is not the first time that Gao has made the claim. Earlier in September this year the MP had claimed that the Chinese Army intruded into Arunachal Pradesh’s remote Anjaw district and constructed a bridge over a stream.

Sources told The Tribune that post the 73-day (June 16 to August 28, 2017) Doklam stand-off, India has increased patrolling along the far-eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh. The remote mountainous terrain at Kibithu, Walong and the Lohit valley are in greater focus. Surveillance is not possible through UAVs due to dense tree foliage.

Hence, patrolling has to be on foot in the valleys of Lohit, lower Subhansiri, upper Subhansiri, Siang, Dibang, Delai and Dau. These are very narrow valleys in which the invader will have a military disadvantage, said a senior military officer.