The deadly skirmish between China and India over disputed territory in eastern Ladakh, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead, underscores a troubling feature of China’s strategic behavior. While it is often assumed that China will settle border disputes through diplomacy, this does not appear to be the case. The current scuffle is the latest in a series of clashes along the disputed Line of Control.
Each time, the dispute is exacerbated by a mix of factors. In the past, tensions have reflected broader national conflicts over slavery and territorial expansion. For example, the Compromise of 1850, which settled the Texas-New Mexico border dispute by establishing a clearer boundary and allowing New Mexico to organize as a state, failed to address underlying differences between pro-slavery Texans and anti-slavery activists. Similarly, the conflict over Thailand’s contested border is a product of competing regional interests and a feud between two powerful political patriarchs.
While the recent clash is unlikely to degenerate into a full-blown war, it is another indication that the LAC remains volatile — even after Chinese troops withdrew from their posts in 2020 and India ceased construction of infrastructure on the disputed territory as part of an agreed-upon disengagement agreement. In a tense and uncertain strategic environment, these events should remind the world that it is important for nations to work together to maintain a peaceful and prosperous international order.
The video was filmed in January by an Indian military source, who says it shows Chinese troops transgressing the LAC to attack a group of Indian soldiers. It is difficult to verify the claim given that news journalists do not have access to these areas.
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