Sino-Indian Escalation: Blip or Lasting Strategic Shift?

Last month, Chinese and Indian troops came to blows in their deadliest border incident since 1967, culminating on June 15 with the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops. The Indian and Chinese governments have remained largely silent on exactly what happened along the disputed boundary. The two countries appear to have stabilized the situation by starting a disengagement process, but unlike prior dustups, this unexpected and deadly turn could portend a lasting and significant strategic shift.

Will New Delhi and Beijing return to tamping down tensions and broadly adhering to border management protocols? Or has this escalation set two of Asia’s largest economic and political powers on a new and irreconcilable path toward rivalry?

USIP hosted an expert panel on the Sino-Indian border clash and its implications for regional and global security. The discussion examined whether this conflict signals an emboldened shift in China’s posture toward disputed borders elsewhere, how this rivalry affects existing India-Pakistan tensions and other border disputes, and what the implications are for the United States and its allies as they push back on perceived Chinese aggression.

Speakers:

Tanvi Madan
Senior Fellow, Project on International Order and Strategy and Director of the India Project, Brookings Institution

M. Taylor Fravel
Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science and Director of the Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Vikram J. Singh
Senior Advisor, Asia Center, USIP

Jacob Stokes, moderator
Senior Policy Analyst, China Program, Asia Center, USIP
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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. The Institute provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.

[ajayraina]

For India " Hide your power, bide your time"... as said by Deng Xiopang...Chinese are good, but not good enough to Decode Mr. Modi....This once your ambitions exceeded your expectations....so 130- 180 dead & total we know it was a you scratched & it became a said & done, this is not the last we will see each other on any of our Melee is yet to sea from your side or from ur protege's is expected....both within or outside....We are ready....Have faith.