FACT CHECK: No Chinese Military Buildup Near Arunachal Pradesh - Here's the Truth Behind Viral Video

A video circulating on social media platforms claims that the Chinese military has begun a massive military build-up near the shared border in Arunachal Pradesh. The viral videos have triggered concerns about fresh tensions along the India-China border. However, upon checking, the viral claim was found to be false. The fact-check unit of PIB clarified that the exercise shown in the video has no connection to Arunachal Pradesh or any other sector along the India-China border.Several social media users posted videos of Chinese soldiers claiming that Beijing is engaged in military buildup near the border. "China has started massive military build-up near Arunachal Pradesh," a user posted. "WAR? China is rapidly militarising its border with India,

completing 36 hardened aircraft shelters at Lhunze airbase just 40 km from Arunachal Pradesh, allowing fast deployment of stealth jets and troops," another user posted.A fact check by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified that the video in question is not related to any military activity near the border. According to PIB's Fact-Check Unit, the footage actually captures a routine military exercise conducted by a brigade of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) 78th Group Army around a month ago. The 78th Group Army is part of China’s Northern Theatre Command, which is headquartered in Harbin in Heilongjiang Province. "Several social media accounts have shared a video claiming that China has started a massive military build-up near Arunachal Pradesh. ❌ This claim is #Fake," posted PIB Fact-Check on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

The misleading video was originally uploaded on YouTube and has since been shared across multiple social media platforms with false claims, contributing to unnecessary alarm and speculation. "The video shared shows a military exercise conducted by a brigade of the PLA’s 78th Group Army, which is part of the Northern Theatre Command, headquartered in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province," it said. "The video has no relation to any exercise on the Indian border," it added.

PIB urged citizens to remain cautious while consuming and sharing such content, especially on sensitive issues related to national security. "Please stay alert and rely only on information obtained from official sources," it said.