NPR June 2020.
Dozens of Indian soldiers in winter jackets wade through a murky river holding guns,
poles and riot shields.
They're in the depths of the Golwan Valley in the Himalayas on a disputed border between India and China.
Once the soldiers reach the other side of the river,
there's some pushing and shoving with members of the Chinese army.
Not a single shot is fired.
There is a longstanding agreement not to shoot along the border.
But at least 20 Indian soldiers are killed.
A senior Indian military official told the BBC that Chinese soldiers used iron rods studded with nails to beat Indian soldiers.
And Beijing said that four from its side were killed that day.
Around this time, other skirmishes at the India-China border flare up.
In response, the Indian government banned several Chinese apps, including TikTok.
China blocked Indian news websites.
Chinese imports into India were heavily scrutinized.
Flights between the two countries stayed suspended for years.
And despite all this, this summer,
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was snapped grinning at an event in China.
chatting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This is right as the Trump administration plays hardball in trade talks with both countries.