Gaps between macho public rhetoric in the two emerging powers and reality is nothing new. India's chaotic and colourful media are always quick to seize on evidence of aggressive Chinese intentions, whether that be a new alleged border incursion, a new aid initiative to a neighbour or some undiplomatic language. Listening to some TV pundits as you fix your masala chai, eggs and paratha in the morning you would be forgiven for thinking that war was imminent.

India and China have of course fought before, in 1962. Then Delhi's forces, ill-equipped, unprepared and badly led came off much the worse. This has left its scars, as have the three more or less victorious wars India has fought on its other frontier against Pakistan. The result is something of a siege mentality which could be considered odd in a country of 1.2 billion with a $1.5tn (￡930bn) economy that dwarfs all but one of its neighbours.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/19/india-missile-china-agni-v?newsfeed=true