Discover Facts's video: India and China deployed additional troops in Ladakh Border Latest update India Vs China

India vs. China: What's Behind the Deadly Clashes Between the Nuclear Powers Military experts say one reason for the current face-off is that India has been building roads and airfields to improve connectivity and narrow the gap with China's superior infrastructure on its side The Indian army has said at least 20 of its soldiers were killed after hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese troops at a disputed border site on Monday night, in the deadliest clash between the two Asian giants in decades. China said its troops were engaged in a "violent physical confrontation" with Indian soldiers, but has given no details of those killed or wounded. The Indian army and India's foreign ministry have said both sides suffered casualties after their troops clashed, even as the two countries were trying to resolve a weeks-long border standoff. A past agreement between the two sides stipulates patrols should not open fire near the LAC. Violent, high-altitude disputes have erupted several times without guns being involved. The deaths were the first since a major border clash in 1967 between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which are also the world's two most populous countries. Hundreds were killed in those battles. Both countries claim vast swathes of each other's territory along their Himalayan border, with some disagreements rooted in demarcations by British colonial administrators of India. India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962 and distrust has occasionally led to flare-ups ever since. Infrastructure building near or within disputed territories is often blamed for increases in tensions. The LAC is largely based on the ceasefire line after the war in 1962, but both sides disagree on where it lies. The last major dispute took place in 2017 on the remote Doklam plateau near the borders of India, Bhutan, and China, at the eastern end of the 4,056 kilometre (2,520 mile) long border. After a tense standoff both sides agreed to an "expeditious disengagement" of troops, according to India's foreign ministry.