The disputed border between India and China has become a major strand in the rivalry between two emerging major powers. As nationalist governments have come to power in both countries, the contested boundary has served as a site for displays of sovereign assertiveness and military prowess. The tense situation has fueled a dangerous arms race in South Asia, with both sides spending billions to enhance their armed forces and develop increasingly sophisticated weapons systems.
Recently, a video has surfaced on social media showing troops from the two sides of the border fighting with sticks and fists in a disputed area near the river that marks the de facto Line of Actual Control (LAC). The clip, which CNN cannot verify, comes days after Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said a clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers had taken place last week. China has downplayed the report, saying the situation along the border remains stable.
Both sides are stepping up efforts to de-escalate the situation. A dispute resolution process that came to a halt after a deadly confrontation in June 2020 — the first hand-to-hand fighting between soldiers on the Sino-Indian border since 1975 — could restart. Both countries could also sign accords at the highest levels to clarify areas of the LAC where faceoffs are most frequent and limit patrolling in these hot spots.
But it is unlikely that a solution to the border issue will be found soon, especially given the lack of a realistic political process that would address it. In the meantime, both sides are likely to continue ratcheting up tensions, perhaps with new provocations.
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