The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a fact-check clarification dismissing viral claims on social media that China has begun a massive military build-up near Arunachal Pradesh. According to PIB, the claim circulating with a video is false and misleading.
Several social media accounts had shared the video alleging heightened military activity by China along the India–China border, raising concerns among the public. However, PIB clarified that the footage does not show any deployment or exercise near the Indian border.
In its official statement under the #PIBFactCheck initiative, the government said that the video actually depicts a routine military exercise conducted by a brigade of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) 78th Group Army. This unit operates under China’s Northern Theatre Command, which is headquartered in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province—located far from the India–China border.
PIB further emphasized that the exercise shown in the video has no connection whatsoever to Arunachal Pradesh or any other border region with India. The clarification aims to counter misinformation that could create unnecessary panic or misunderstanding regarding national security matters.
The bureau urged citizens to remain cautious about unverified content being circulated online, particularly on sensitive issues related to defence and border security. It advised the public to rely only on official sources and credible government communications for accurate information.
The government has repeatedly warned that misleading or out-of-context visuals are often used on social media to spread false narratives. PIB reiterated the importance of fact-checking before sharing such content and encouraged people to follow official fact-check channels to stay informed.
