The researcher: "This is the deadliest in 45 years"

While the world often talks about the conflict between India and Pakistan, the conflict between India and China has come to an end. But in fact it has been tense between the countries ever since the 1962 war.

- The war was a total loss for India and this remains. When India made its nuclear test blasts at the end of the 1980s, it was said that it was not for Pakistan they did, but China was the number one opponent, says Sten Widmalm, professor of political science at Uppsala University, who researches, among others, India.

He continues:

- And the missile systems that India is upgrading now go far further than Pakistan. They no longer race against Pakistan, they race against China.

China has great land claims in northeastern India. Several conversations have been held between the countries for decades. But the conflict has never been resolved.

The last situation became serious in 2017 when Chinese troops moved into the Indian side and this resulted in a 72-day conflict. But at that time no one died.

During the spring, the conflict escalated again. There have been several clashes where Indian and Chinese soldiers have been fighting each other.

- There was a negotiation to resolve the situation. Those negotiations went pretty well. It was agreed to withdraw forces. But then it has started again, says Sten Widmalm.

How close is this to leading to a war?

- This is the deadliest in 45 years. There has been nothing like it since the war. But I don't think you're there yet. Both countries agree that there should be no war and that this should not spread. They will try to talk to each other after that.