China and India have both strengthened their military presence near their disputed border areas after a violent clash last week that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. Ben Ho, Associate Research Fellow with the Military Studies Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said that if New Delhi were to exercise the military option, it would likely be a small-scale and calibrated one so as not to stoke tensions. Beijing also would likely respond proportionately, he said. “The primary strategic concern of Beijing is competing with the US in the western Pacific in the long run, and they would do well to minimise anything that diverts attention and resources from that endeavour,” Ho said.