A desolate border crossing ravaged by war. Guard towers are rusted, the road has been ripped up, and barbed wire fences are down. A gloomy sky completes the image.
Tactically, a skirmish might not seem useful, but from a higher level perspective it’s a way to keep any disputed territory in question. Possession is nine tenths the law in these types of disputes and even a handful of soldiers lost in the process can be seen as a small price to pay to prevent any potential loss of contested land or territory. Additionally, poking at the border keeps it in the minds of your people and a halfway decent propaganda machine can take those small losses and remind your population that your government is taking care of things while also protecting their land.
Disputes over borders can lead to political negotiations and legislation, reflecting broader issues like sovereignty. Such was the case in the era of slavery when border conflicts contributed to the compromise of the Missouri Compromise of 1850.
In the case of India and China, the recent clash along the disputed Line of Actual Control in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh is an illustration of this dynamic. An early State Department document notes that the conflict “has been characterized by escalation of tensions, but neither Beijing nor Delhi seeks major conflict.” The fact remains that skirmishes are still a useful tool to keep any disputed territory in question.
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