1. This time, the India-China friction is in the western sector of the border. Two areas in this sector, apart 200 km, saw incidents -- the Galwan River area and the Pangong Tso lake area. The Galwan Valley had not been contested at least since 1962. But not any more.

2. The Galwan River flows from Aksai Chin to Ladakh. The valley hasn't seen any skirmishes in the past because the Indian and Chinese LAC claim lines match in the area. But, Indian officials say, China was opposed to India upgrading infrastructure on the Indian side of the LAC.

3. In 2019, India built the 255-km DSDBO road, linking Leh to Daulat Beg Oldie. DBO has a military base & an airstrip, and lies just 9 km off Aksai Chin. Now India is building another road branching off DSDBO to LAC along the Galwan bank. China calls this a change in status quo.

4. China had better infra on its side of the LAC. With the new roads, India can move troops & monitoring equipment faster from the DBO base to the LAC. This has evidently upset the Chinese. In Galwan, China has now enhanced troops presence and pitched dozens of tents.

5. The 2nd flashpoint is Pangong Tso, 200 km south of Galwan. It's a disputed area. The mountains on Pangong Tso lake’s northern bank jut forward in spurs, which the Army calls Fingers. The dispute is which finger marks LAC. India says 8, China says 2. India controls up to 4.

6. The area between Finger 2 and Finger 8 is open for domination, which both sides try to do. Some reports say China is now attempting to stop Indian patrolling at Finger 2, and has brought in more patrolling boats to Pangong Tso lake. This has caused friction in Pangong Tso.

7 (Last): So in effect, China has turned one undisputed area on LAC into a disputed one, while stepping up troops presence & patrolling in a disputed area. That these two flashpoints are 200 km apart suggests that these are not localised events. And may not be the last either.