In Kashmir, a war of words between China and India

With tensions on the rise in East Asia, China's relationship with its neighbor to the West also hit some turbulence this week.  On Thursday, India's new Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh alleged that there are Chinese soldiers stationed in the region of Kashmir that is officially administered by Pakistan (PoK), most likely to protect Chinese railway and hydro-electric projects in the area.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said General Singh's comments are "entirely groundless" and that China hopes to designate 2012 as the "Year of China-India Friendship and Cooperation."

Map of India and China / Map of disputed Kashmir region

But things don't seem so rosey from India's side.   According to a report from the U.S. National Intelligence Agency, "India is increasingly concerned about China's posture along the border and Beijing's aggressive posture in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific Region."  In fact, earlier in the week, General Singh assured the Indian people in his first press conference since taking office that the border between India and China is secure, and that something like the Sino-Indian War of 1962, where China took control of Indian territory, could not happen again.

China has been displaying its power all around India in recent years, from building ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and to strengthening maritime ties to Seychelles, Madagascar and other island nations in the Indian ocean.  Additionally, China has at least a half dozen airfields in the Tibet Autonomous Region, right at India's border.

In turn, it seems China is worried about India teaming up with Japan.  With still unresolved border disputes in Kashmir, the relationship between China and India is strained, while India and Japan share much strategic common ground and may find themselves in a similar boat as things continue to heat up.