Border skirmish is a short battle between soldiers from different nations who are fighting for territory and usually the winner will gain more land. Border conflicts are a significant cause of war throughout history and they can lead to many other events such as diplomatic tensions, violence between the countries involved, and even world wars. Border skirmishes are a specific type of conflict that occurs on a nation’s border and can result in minor injuries for both sides or, in severe cases, death.
Beginning on May 5, 2020, Chinese and Indian troops have engaged in a series of aggressive melees and face-offs at locations along the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh, including near disputed Pangong Lake, Spanggur Tso, and Galwan Valley. As of June 17, 2021, a total of 40 People’s Liberation Army soldiers have been killed.
Despite the deadly clashes, media coverage of the standoff has been largely limited to Indian outlets. Chinese outlets have remained quiet on the incident. This reticence is likely due to the fact that the clashes are a part of China’s “Psyops” campaign, intended to spook Indian forces in anticipation of a full-scale military action by Beijing.
This tense territorial dispute is brought to life in the captivating underwater photography of this week’s Photo of the Week, “Border Dispute.” The image depicts two prominent fish in a battle for food and territory as they vie for the algae that forms their habitat. The rich blue background and contrasting colors of the marine environment create a visually stunning and thought-provoking scene.