A new video of Chinese and Indian soldiers engaging in a border skirmish has surfaced on social media, offering a rare glimpse into tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers. Although many experts agreed the footage was not from a recent clash, it serves as a reminder of how volatile the LAC remains even after China and India signed an agreement to de-escalate tensions in 2021.
The skirmish occurred in the Tawang sector of India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is also claimed by China. Beijing accused Indian troops of obstructing a patrol and attempting to unilaterally change the status quo, while Delhi insisted that Chinese soldiers crossed into its territory. In the end, the incident ended through a quick resolution through local-level negotiations without government intervention.
Nevertheless, both sides have raised their forces near the border and Cambodia has reportedly deployed rocket-propelled grenades. This is a troubling development, but our correspondent Jonathan Head thinks that it’s unlikely to escalate into an all-out war, given how similar previous skirmishes between the two have played out.
Before the conflict began, analysts said, Cambodia had been building up its force along the border — specifically near a disputed temple that is claimed by both countries. It had laid new roads and built a military base, which were all visible in satellite images. Those moves, combined with the fact that Thailand is much stronger militarily than Cambodia, tipped the scale toward a more aggressive confrontation.