ITANAGAR / NEW DELHI: China has done it again. People's Liberation Army ( PLA ) troops intruded over 20 km into the Chaglagam sector of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, pitched tents there and finally withdrew after spending three to four days in the area last week.

This latest incursion seemed somewhat similar to the 21-day standoff between the rival armies in the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector of eastern Ladakh after PLA troops had intruded 19-km into Depsang valley in April.

Importantly, defence ministry and Army on Wednesday downplayed the entire incident. "There was no standoff between the troops. Both armies patrol up to their perception of where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) lies. Long-range patrols, which can be of 10-12 days duration, from both sides carry tents to spend the nights at high altitude. There is nothing unusual in all this,'' said an officer.

But sources said there was "a faceoff-like situation'' in Chaglagam's "Fishtail'' area, which is largely unmanned due to the inhospitable terrain and takes its name from the shape the LAC takes in the region, after the intrusion was reportedly detected by ITBP personnel on August 13.

The Army rushed soldiers from the 9 JAK Rifles battalion to the area and stopped the PLA patrol from "ingressing any further'', which included the use of "banner drills'' to tell the Chinese soldiers that they had entered Indian territory.

The Army's 2 Division deployed in the region even mounted a couple of helicopter reconnaissance sorties, with the deputy GoC (general-officer-commanding) on board, but to no avail. Later, the PLA patrol left the area on its own.

However, former BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao on Wednesday claimed that Chinese troops are still camping in Plamplam Valley of the district. "Around 200 Chinese army personnel entered the Chaglagam area in Anjaw and have been camping in the valley located between base camp numbers three and four of the Indian Army," Gao said.

