india-china-relations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for India and China to see each other as “partners” rather than “adversaries or threats,” during a significant two-day visit to New Delhi aimed at mending frayed relations between the two Asian giants.
Wang’s visit marks a key diplomatic engagement between the nuclear-armed neighbours and comes amid a cautious thaw in ties following years of heightened tensions, including the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash in the disputed Himalayan region of Ladakh. That incident, which claimed the lives of soldiers on both sides, caused a severe breakdown in bilateral relations and froze high-level political dialogue.
Meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday—the second such engagement since the Galwan incident—Wang said bilateral ties were now moving in a “positive trend” and expressed optimism about future cooperation, ahead of his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Jaishankar echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that both sides were “seeking to move ahead from a difficult period in our ties.” The two foreign ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, pilgrimage arrangements, and the sharing of river data, signaling a broader effort to stabilise the relationship.
On Tuesday, Wang also held talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, focusing on the ongoing boundary negotiations. During the delegation-level discussions, Wang stated, “We are happy to share that stability has now been restored at the borders,” while admitting that the “setbacks faced in the last few years were not in our interest.”
The visit is being viewed as a key step toward normalisation, with both sides making deliberate efforts to rebuild confidence. In October last year, India and China agreed on new patrolling arrangements to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed border area.
Since then, a number of measures have been introduced to restore normalcy. China has allowed Indian pilgrims to resume visits to sacred sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while India has restarted visa services for Chinese tourists. Both countries have also agreed to resume discussions on reopening border trade through designated mountain passes.
There is also speculation that direct commercial flights between India and China, suspended since the pandemic and the border standoff, will resume before the end of the year—another signal of warming ties.
Wang’s meetings in Delhi are expected to help pave the way for Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to China in seven years later this month, where he is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, a regional security forum. Reports indicate that Modi may hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines, although neither side has officially confirmed this.
The diplomatic engagement between India and China is unfolding against the backdrop of India’s increasingly strained relations with the United States. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, in response to India’s continued energy and defense dealings with Russia—bringing the total tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, the highest in Asia.
Adding to the tension, White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro accused India of aligning too closely with both Russia and China. In an opinion piece for The Financial Times on Monday, Navarro wrote, “India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs.”
“If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to start acting like one,” Navarro said.
In his comments following the meeting with Wang, Jaishankar noted that discussions included key global developments and stressed India’s support for a more balanced global order. “We seek a fair, balanced and multi-polar world order, including a multipolar Asia,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of reforming global governance structures, adding, “Reformed multilateralism is also the call of the day. In the current environment, there is clearly the imperative of maintaining and enhancing stability in the global economy as well.”
As both India and China tread cautiously toward reconciliation, this visit signals a renewed effort to stabilise one of the most complex bilateral relationships in Asia. However, deep-rooted mistrust remains, and both sides appear aware that rebuilding trust will be a gradual and carefully calibrated process.
