China’s Grey-Zone Warfare Along the LAC: Challenges for India

Repeated face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) highlight continuing border tensions. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur recently confirmed confrontations at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district since July 2026. These incidents reflect China’s use of grey-zone warfare to gradually change the ground situation without triggering a full-scale conflict.

Grey-zone warfare involves actions between peace and conventional war, including political pressure, economic influence, cyber operations and legal claims. China also employs its “Three Warfares” strategy, which combines public opinion, psychological and legal warfare. Following the 2020 clashes in Eastern Ladakh, China strengthened military infrastructure near the Indian border by developing roads, railways, airfields and other strategic facilities.

Through its “nibble and negotiate” approach, China attempts to alter the status quo through incremental actions such as changes in patrolling patterns and infrastructure development. Its border-village programme, renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh and growing strategic partnership with Pakistan further complicate India’s security concerns. These measures allow Beijing to strengthen its territorial claims while limiting the risks associated with direct military confrontation.

India’s Response: Stronger Deterrence and Coordinated Strategy

India needs an integrated national strategy combining military preparedness, border management, infrastructure development, intelligence, logistics, economic policy and diplomacy. Better surveillance, rapid reinforcement and coordination between the Army and border-guarding forces are essential. The article also argues for considering a dedicated border-guarding force under the Army’s operational control to ensure faster responses to Chinese activities.

Diplomatic engagement remains important, but high-level meetings alone cannot guarantee peace along the LAC. China’s continued territorial claims demonstrate that improved diplomatic relations do not necessarily mean that border disputes have been resolved.

India must therefore strengthen credible military deterrence while ensuring that border agreements are respected. Its approach should combine firm diplomacy, operational preparedness and long-term strategic coordination. The primary objective must be to prevent China from converting small, incremental gains into a permanent change in the status quo.