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Partners Not Rivals – India & China

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations -Bilateral relations with China)

Context

  • Event: PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China (August 31).
  • Key Message: Both sides agreed to be partners, not rivals, emphasizing mutual trust and respect.
  • Context: Meeting came after a five-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
  • Objective: To gradually normalize bilateral ties strained by the border conflict.
  • Readouts:
    • Indias stance: Strategic autonomy, fair trade, repairing ties.
    • Chinas stance: Don’t let border issues define overall relations.
  • Modis Visit: First trip to China in five years; also aimed at balancing global power shifts after turbulence in India–US ties (under Trump).
  • Border Milestones:
    • Oct 2024: Border patrol leaders met, discussed sensitive points.
    • Aug 2025: 24th round of border talks held, easing tensions.
  • Modi–Putin Meet: Same day, focus on tariffs after US levied 50% duty on Indian goods.

Strategic Context

  • India–China ties oscillate between cooperation and competition.
  • SCO platform used by India to engage without appearing weak, while balancing against US/Japan strategic pressures.
  • Post-2020 Galwan clash, this marks Indias calibrated re-engagement.

Border Issue Management

  • Border is core irritant; India insists peace at LAC is prerequisite for broader cooperation.
  • China emphasizes compartmentalization – don’t let border disputes spill into trade/investment.
  • Recent patrol-level and ministerial talks show slow but steady de-escalation.

Economic & Trade Angle

  • China remains India’s largest trading partner despite tensions (>$135 bn trade, 2024).
  • India seeks fair trade, reduced deficit, and technology access.
  • China wants continued export market in India amid Western decoupling.

Diplomatic Rebalancing

  • India leveraging ties with US, Japan, and Russia to avoid overdependence on China.
  • Engagement with Xi signals India’s multi-alignment policy – strategic autonomy at core.
  • “Partners, not rivals” line meant more for optics to stabilize ties ahead of SCO/BRICS agendas.

Security & Geopolitical Dimensions

  • Both nations are nuclear powers and neighbors, yet security dilemma persists.
  • India wary of China–Pakistan axis and China’s influence in Indian Ocean (String of Pearls).
  • Dialogue reduces immediate risk of escalation, but trust deficit remains.

September 2025
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