Tensions between India and China at the Tibetan border particularly with relation to Arunachal Pradesh have historically been high, with China’s 1962 invasion of India bringing this issue to light. Decades after the Sino-Indian War, the 4,057 kilometre boundary separating the two countries remains disputed leaving Himalayan control lines ambiguous. China’s continued interest in staking a claim in India’s northeast has led to China’s practice of referring to the Arunachal Pradesh region as ‘Southern Tibet’ paired with an increased Chinese militant presence at the border led to the formation and mobilisation of the Arunachal Scouts, as a means of reinforcements for the Ladakh and Sikkim Scouts. Having already witnessed the victory of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) against Indian soldiers in 1962 in Arunachal Pradesh, reporters theorised the defeat of the Indian army to be due to factors such as diminished roads and communication capabilities as well as a lack of high-level ammunition and arms. These factors, as well as a smaller number of armed forces present at the border, limited understanding of regional topography and acclimatisation issues, among others, have also been theorised to be responsible for India’s loss as well as providing rationale for the mobilisation of local scouts.