Modi to visit China first time since deadly 2020 clash

Modi to visit China first time since deadly 2020 clash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, marking his first trip to Beijing since the devastating 2020 Galwan Valley clash. This diplomatic breakthrough comes after years of strained relations between the world's two most populous nations.

The visit carries profound significance as it represents Modi's first journey to China since the deadly border confrontation in eastern Ladakh that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops. Modi's last official visit to China was in 2019.

Gradual Diplomatic Thaw

The announcement follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements that have signaled a cautious thaw in India-China relations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently visited China and met with President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao.

Modi and Xi last met in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia — their first face-to-face meeting in five years. That meeting came after both countries announced a disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control, marking progress in normalizing relations after the prolonged military standoff.

Regional Context and Trump Factor

The visit occurs against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump, who has threatened substantial tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. According to analysts, Trump's aggressive tariff policies may be inadvertently pushing both India and China toward pragmatic engagement despite their historic rivalry.

Before the China leg, Modi is expected to visit Japan on August 30 for the annual India-Japan Summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The Japan visit will focus on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project and broader cooperation in defense, technology and trade.

Multilateral Platform

The SCO Summit will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations, making it the largest in the organization's history according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Modi's participation signals India's continued commitment to multilateral diplomacy in Eurasia despite bilateral tensions with China.

However, India recently refused to endorse a joint statement at the SCO defence ministers' meeting, objecting to the omission of the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 Indian tourists while the document referenced militant activity in Pakistan's Balochistan.