Congress has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the nation, send an all-party delegation to Taksing and raise the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his expected India visit next month.
BY PC Bureau
August 13, 2026: The Congress on Wednesday expressed concern over reports that Chinese forces have restricted Indian troops from accessing patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Taksing sector of Arunachal Pradesh, describing the development as a fresh escalation in China’s attempts to alter the situation along the disputed border.
In a statement issued by its Foreign Affairs Department, Congress said the issue was first brought to the attention of the state and central governments by indigenous communities in June. The statement was issued by Salman Khurshid, chairman of the party’s Foreign Affairs Department.
The party also referred to China’s construction of 628 Xiaokang, or “well-off”, villages along India’s borders, citing a figure disclosed in March by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai.
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“This is yet another escalation in Chinese attempts at encroachment of Indian territory,” the Congress said.
The party invoked an earlier position articulated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, arguing that the government must unequivocally defend India’s territorial integrity and assert its strategic autonomy. It warned that any failure to respond firmly could encourage Beijing to adopt a more aggressive posture in the region.
Congress also accused the BJP-led government of compromising India’s interests in Ladakh, the Indian Ocean Region and West Asia, allegations that the government has rejected. The party warned that any further perceived accommodation of China could have long-term strategic consequences for India and affect the country’s credibility internationally.
“The Indian National Congress is deeply alarmed and gravely concerned by reports that China has denied India access to historically Indian patrolling points across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Taksing, Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian National Congress demands that Prime… pic.twitter.com/56lLvHTZID
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 13, 2026
Congress’ three demands
The opposition party called for three immediate steps:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi should address the nation on the reported developments.
- The government should constitute and send an all-party delegation to assess the situation on the ground.
- Modi should raise the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who, according to the Congress statement, is expected to visit India next month.
“The Prime Minister must prioritise India’s national security over the pursuit of personal political capital and performative diplomacy,” the party said.
Tensions along the LAC
The allegations come against the backdrop of the prolonged military standoff between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh. Although several rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations have resulted in disengagement at some friction points, the two countries have yet to restore the pre-2020 situation across all contested areas.
Arunachal Pradesh remains particularly sensitive. China claims the state as part of what it calls “South Tibet”, while India maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of the country. Both sides have expanded infrastructure and maintained substantial military deployments along the frontier.
The Taksing sector lies in the Upper Subansiri region close to the LAC and has strategic significance because of its difficult terrain and proximity to the disputed boundary.
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As of Wednesday evening, there was no immediate response from the Ministry of External Affairs or the Ministry of Defence to the Congress statement or to the reports concerning restricted access to patrolling points in Taksing.
Indian security officials have previously maintained that Indian troops continue to patrol up to areas corresponding to India’s perception of the LAC, while exercising operational restraint to prevent local incidents from escalating.
The Congress statement is likely to increase political pressure on the government ahead of the expected high-level India-China engagement next month. The opposition has repeatedly accused the government of understating Chinese border activity, while the government has rejected the charge and pointed to continuing military and diplomatic engagement with Beijing.
The reported developments in Taksing will now be closely watched for any official clarification and for indications of whether the restrictions represent a temporary localised issue or a broader change in the pattern of Chinese activity along the Arunachal frontier.
