Ari Goldstein

China and India could plunge into a war over the control of the Himalayan border following a clash which left 20 Indian soldiers dead and several others captured according to reports from the Indian media.

The two nuclear armed rivals are reportedly building up their forces in the remote Galwan Valley following a series of brawls that have been happening in the past weeks.

On Monday night, a huge fight broke out between Chinese and Indian troops in roughly the same barren area where these two nations previously fought in the 1962 war. Both Countries and their nationalist leaders, President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, have taken increasingly assertive postures that pose real risks of the conflict spinning out of control.

China’s army spokesperson Zhang Shuili yesterday urged India to restrain its frontline troops and stop all provocative actions and return to the correct path of solving disputes to avoid a potential war.
On the other side, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said his country wants peace, but would give an appropriate response if instigated.

However, the Indian media has reported that the two countries agreed to cool down the situation at the border.