Indian forces confiscate Chinese equipment in Arunachal

Indian forces have confiscated equipment, including two excavators of a Chinese road construction team, on the Arunachal border that had entered a kilometre into Indian Territory on December 28.

India is now pressing for intervention from the Chinese government to resolve the matter, government sources said.

Sources said either a flag meeting between Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army or some kind of discussion between the two sides is likely to take place to ensure the matter is resolved and the Chinese equipment is returned.

Indian officials maintained there was no face-off between troops but the civilian team could not have entered without a green signal from Chinese forces.

The incursion took place near Bising village in Tuting area close to the border.

"In such situations, the Chinese forces usually survey the area and give protection to the civilian team involved in construction work," said a government official.

Road construction near border areas by China has been a sensitive subject with Indian forces keeping a close eye on such projects as they could be a threat.

The incident comes two months after a 74-day standoff ended in September in Doklam - a tri junction between India-China-Bhutan. The confrontation was triggered in mid-June as Indian troops stopped the Chinese from building a road in the region which is disputed between China and Bhutan. India's stand was that China getting access to the region would give them direct access to the Siliguri corridor. Giving strategic advantage to Chinese forces would also change the status quo, violating agreements between the three countries. The standoff ended with India ensuring that China stopped the road construction.