For months, China and India have increasingly disputed over their shared border along the eastern edge of the Himalayan region, Kashmir. According to a U.S. News and World Reports story, allegations against each country include, "soldiers crossing into each other's territory" and other "provocative" actions such as "[establishing] lines of control and creating provocations along the border" (Associated Press). The standoff is over an area of land that has the world's highest landing strip as well as a glacier feeding one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. In June, the sides turned violent, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. While an actual full-scale war is unlikely, both sides have been making preparations, with India being "emboldened by tougher U.S. measures against Beijing" (AP). With the decimation of India's economy due to the Coronavirus pandemic, deploying and maintaining troops in an area where winter temperatures can reach -58 degrees Fahrenheit would not seem to be in the best interest of the country. Moreover, the Kashmir region of India has been highly disputed between India and Pakistan for generations with both sides claiming ownership. If a war were to ensue, Pakistan would be a key ally for China as they could "take advantage of any threat developing on northern borders" and push back Indian forces from a different front. All in all, the tension between the two countries has escalated quickly, and a border dispute like this threatens not only the stability of Asia, but established alliances and global powers looking to take advantage of the looming conflict.
Trevor Mohrmann
Link to article: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-09-06/experts-warn-china-india-standoff-risks-unintentional-war
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