*Indian and Chinese troops fought a new brawl on their contested Himalayanborder that left injuries on both sides, officials said Monday,highlighting the fraught state of relations between the giant neighbours.*

The fighting on January 20 came six months after a pitched battle whichleft at least 20 Indian troops dead as well as an unknown number of Chinesecasualties.

The world’s two most populous nations have since become embroiled in adiplomatic showdown over their geographical and political differences.

India’s military played down the latest skirmish as a “minor face-off” atNaku La pass, which connects Sikkim state with Tibet on the Chinese side.

China’s foreign ministry, however, said it had “no information” on theincident.

In a statement, the Indian army said last week’s clash was “resolved bylocal commanders as per established protocols”.

Government sources said four Indian troops were injured when a Chinesepatrol was forced back. They added that China’s People’s Liberation Armysuffered an unknown number of casualties.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Chinese troops“dedicated themselves to safeguarding the peace and tranquility” of theborder region”.

“China urges India to work in the same direction,” he said.Firearms banned

Details of the latest clash emerged on the eve of India’s Republic Day,when the country shows off its latest military hardware at a parade in thecapital.

Hand-to-hand fighting between 150 soldiers at Naku La in May also set offtensions.

About 10 troops from each side were injured.

The use of firearms by border patrols is banned under a bilateral agreement.

In June, troops fought with fists and wooden clubs in the Galwan valley ofLadakh region, leaving dozens dead. China has never confirmed it sufferedfatalities.

A number of the Indian troops killed were expected to receive posthumousawards on Republic Day.

China and India, who fought a border war in 1962, blame each other for theincreased tensions and each has poured tens of thousands of extra troopsinto border zones.

The latest de-escalation talks between military commanders were heldSunday, but there have been no signs that either side is ready to back down.

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month thatrelations between the neighbours had been “significantly damaged” by eventsof the past year.

India is also wary of China’s moves to extend its diplomatic muscle intoSouth Asia through massive investment schemes.

The government has sought to block Chinese companies from getting deals inIndia, banning more than 150 Chinese apps made by its tech giants.

Chinese products are being halted in customs logjams at Indian ports. Chinahas in turn warned that India will suffer economically from the dispute.

Harsh Pant, a professor of international relations at Kings College inLondon said the Sikkim brawl showed “there is a real stalemate on theborder”.

He said Beijing was “looking for different pressure points” in the region.

On a broader level, Pant said the Himalayas were “just another theatre inthe larger global picture for Beijing”.

“It is testing the waters with the new administration of US President JoeBiden. Earlier it used to be just Taiwan or South China Sea but now eventhe Himalayas (with India) are a part of that.

“They want to see how Biden administration will react on these multiplefronts simultaneously or individually,” said Pant. -APP/AFP