India-China border tensions: Fresh skirmish new flare-up between nuclear neighbours

India and China have once again fallen out over a disputed border in the Himalayas.

On Tuesday (September 1) India accused Chinese troops of taking 'provocative actions' in the mountain area.

It said this happened while commanders from both sides held talks on Monday to reduce tensions.

An Indian official said their country's troops had deployed on four strategic hilltops, after what New Delhi called an attempted Chinese incursion along a border in Ladakh over the weekend.

China denied it started the latest confrontation, and implied India was responsible instead.

A Chinese spokesperson accused Indian soldiers of trespassing across the de facto border and conducting what it called 'flagrant provocations'.

The Asian giants have been locked in a border confrontation for months in the high-altitude Ladakh area.

The two countries have disputed the course of the frontier for more than half a century.

An Indian official briefed on the latest incident said soldiers responded to an attempt by a large number of Chinese infantry to push through a key mountain pass late on Saturday.

He said they drew close enough for verbal arguments, but there were no clashes.

In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in combat with Chinese troops in Ladakh.

It was the most serious clash between the countries in 50 years.

Both sides agreed to pull back.

But this week the Indian military accused Beijing of pulling out of the deal and performing 'provocative military movements'.