The border disputes between China and India have become more vocal of late, the volume of which has apparently been ratcheted up by the irrepressible Indian press. Most contentious right now is a slice of land through the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which the Chinese call South Tibet. The protests in Tibet last year brought the region back onto the radar for the Chinese. The colorful and insightful language of the Indian press – with official Chinese articles and unofficial Chinese blogs lobbing insults back – have made discussions as emotionally charged as any since the countries went to war over the disputed territory in 1962. British colonial gerrymandering and the grand mythologies of both countries have blurred the issues to no end.

The melting glaciers in the Himalayas and the source to the greatest rivers in India and China will only serve to ratchet tensions over the next decade. The glaciers may disappear completely by 2035, due to global warming. Hydroelectric projects from both countries may prove flash points as the countries argue about which countries “own” the glaciers and their life-giving run-off. Look for tensions between the rising economies and their competing middle classes to get worse before they get better.

Further reading: CNN, BBC (Video report)