We can expect a certain flare up, but China always wanted to portray its " peaceful rise" ..the key word ..which they are again and again repeating in the international arena.
China will start a skirmish with India is via the usual route..Pakistan.
Recent rumors set by the joint rumor mill of Pak and China on RAW..Balochistan etc points in this direction.
We should also take into consideration the recent stand of Chinese camp against terrorist outfit in Pakistan at UN..an international body. When asked China gave a wonderful lip service stating its stance basing it on facts and actuals even when the UN security body has proofs on Paks involvements. (I thought China gave its lip service only to Pak and viceversa in their bondage games).
The shape of things:
China will set the stage for Pak to have a freehand in war and escalate it to levels which will need a Chinese intervention.
Ofcourse...we all know what the Chinese will push for in such a scenario.
At International level China will stand by Pakistan to gain a favorable advantage for themselves(China) in any negotiations.
China is pacing up and restructuring their mil and its hardware for a long haul. They cant afford to fight a war now or in the future.
Knowing China, they will take the path to the least casualty on their side but try to gain the lions share of what opportunity can present by positioning strategically. As usual Pak is the card they will play.
The deterrence is to make the war unaffordable for China, even if its coming via Pak.
Well, even China is not immune to regional realities like terrorism. The CCP fears it the most than conventional war with a neighbor.
A few nations are listening.