Did Chinese vehicles enter Indian territory without authorisation? Indian Army fact-checks viral video, reveals truth
Indian Army has dismissed viral social media claims alleging an unauthorised Chinese military vehicle intrusion into Indian territory
The Indian Army has officially dismissed viral social media claims alleging unauthorized Chinese vehicle entry into Indian territory, clarifying that the footage actually shows commercial vehicles operating legally at the Nathu La Pass border trade point in Sikkim.
The Indian Army has officially dismissed viral social media claims alleging unauthorized Chinese vehicle entry into Indian territory, clarifying that the footage actually shows commercial vehicles operating legally at the Nathu La Pass border trade point in Sikkim.
The Indian Army has officially dismissed viral social media claims alleging unauthorized Chinese vehicle entry into Indian territory, clarifying that the footage actually shows commercial vehicles operating legally at the Nathu La Pass border trade point in Sikkim.
The Indian Army, on Monday, dismissed claims circulating on social media saying Chinese vehicles had entered Indian territory without authorisation, clarifying that the vehicles seen in a viral video were commercial vehicles operating at an authorised border trade point in Sikkim.
Indian Army Fact Check, the official fact-check account of the Army, said the footage shows JAC-branded Chinese commercial vehicles at Nathu La Pass, a designated India-China border trade point.
Several social media accounts had shared the video, claiming that Chinese vehicles had entered Indian territory illegally. The posts also alleged that mainstream Indian media was deliberately concealing the incident.
The Army clarified that the movement of commercial vehicles along an authorised trade route was being falsely portrayed as a Chinese military intrusion. It pointed out that trade at Nathu La takes place under established bilateral agreements, designated trading facilities and regulated procedures.
The fact-check also identified it as coordinated inauthentic behaviour involving the circulation of the misleading video. According to the Fact Check handle, as many as12 social media handles posted the same content between 8.26 am and 12.56 pm on October 26, 2026.
"Disinformation Pattern: Chinese commercial vehicles + Omission of authorised border trade context + False narrative of unauthorised Chinese entry + Coordinated posting = Misleading India-China border security narrative," the Army said in a tweet.
The Army further urged social media users to verify the location, original footage and official context before sharing such claims.