Tensions have skyrocketed between two world powers, India and China, after a deadly skirmish erupted on the 15th and 16th of June along the disputed Himalayan border region that lies between the countries. It is believed that dozens have died in the skirmish following physical altercations that date back to early May.
35 dead and injured on Chinese side during clash in Galwan Valley: official sources quoting US intelligence reports
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 17, 2020
On Monday, India indicated it was increasing its war reserves for the potential escalation of conflict between the two nuclear armed nations. The Indian navy has also been given orders to deploy in the Malacca strait to defend Indian territorial integrity.
It is the first conflict between the two states in over 40 years, China and India also fought a short-lived war over the area in 1962 with China emerging triumphant.
The Chinese government are now playing down any talk of an escalation of current tensions but the Indian regime, under right-wing Hindu nationalist leadership, remains in a heightened state of preparedness. With the Times Of India stating that India is in a ‘warlike alert’.
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Zhao Lijian, stated on Thursday:
"We believe that guided by the important consensus reached between the two leaders, China and India can properly deal with the current situation, jointly uphold peace and stability in the border areas, and ensure a sound and steady development of bilateral relations … As the world’s two largest developing countries and emerging economies, China and India have far more common interests than differences. The two sides should follow the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and ensure that China-India relations move in the right direction in line with the interests and expectations of both nations."
The Foreign Minister still however laid the blame for the skirmish at the hands of India:
"The whole thing happened because India’s frontline troops, in violation of the agreement reached at the Commander-level meeting, once again crossed the Line of Actual Control for deliberate provocation, and even violently attacked the Chinese officers and soldiers who went to the terrain for negotiation, thus triggering fierce physical conflicts and causing casualties."
While the talk of de-escalation is welcomed, the Hindustan Times has reported that India has since come under a major cyber-attack from China - shutting down ATMs, government computer systems and financial networks. The accusation comes as Australia also claimed it was hit by a cyber attack from a ‘state-actor’ last week, with fingers being pointed squarely at the Chinese authorities.
The US has said it has no plans to mediate the conflict, but both it and NATO are watching carefully as to how the situation develops. While many have long stated that China has territorial aspirations in Asia, particularly towards Taiwan, others have stated that these claims are based on nothing other than Sinophobia and an anger that the Western powers are now no longer the sole dominant force on the world-stage.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) Image Credit: Pablo Lopez/Flickr Creative Commons
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