In Focus by The Hindu Modi-Xi at Tianjin SCO summit: Does it signal a shift in momentum for India-China ties?
Sep 2, 2025
Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, and Ananth Krishnan, Director at The Hindu Group, explore the significance of Prime Minister Modi's visit to China at the SCO summit after seven years. They discuss whether the Modi-Xi meeting heralds a normalization in India-China ties amidst tensions with the US. The duo examines the evolving diplomatic landscape, potential economic collaborations, and the importance of understanding territorial disputes and security concerns while analyzing the future of these complex bilateral relations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Photos Were Strategic Geopolitical Messaging
- The photo op of Modi with Xi and Putin was deliberate messaging by Delhi to show alternatives to the Western camp.
- Modi limited bilateral meetings, using optics to signal geopolitical positioning.
India Lowers Threshold For Re‑engagement
- India has shifted its re-engagement red lines: stability, not full normalcy, at the border now allows engagement.
- Disengagement and full troop de-induction remain distant and unresolved.
Different Negotiation Logic On The Border
- China prefers shelving the border for economic and strategic leverage rather than final settlement.
- India signalled subtle flexibility by mentioning an 'early harvest' approach for limited progress.
