India v China: Could border fist fights lead to war?

Videos of Indian and Chinese soldiers fighting along the Himalayan border with fists, clubs and rocks have been going viral for a number of years - but experts fear the mediaeval violence could spiral out of control into full-scale war, as leaders Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi use the crisis to boost their support in India and China and strengthen their positions on the international stage.

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But why are soldiers from these vast nuclear powers fighting over desolate mountain ranges with such primitive weapons?

It’s an argument that goes back decades that both sides have tried to contain, by limiting the use of guns in the region, but after a deadly clash in 2020, that agreement is breaking down.

Now, soldiers have been told to use their weapons if they’re threatened and fears among experts of escalation and the prospect of war are growing.
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