Beijing: India’s evolving relationship with China reflects a strategy of managed competition and limited cooperation rather than full reconciliation, despite signs of diplomatic engagement since 2024, according to a report by the Politeia Research Foundation (PRF).
The report argues that while recent developments have been widely described as a diplomatic thaw, they should not be interpreted as a fundamental reset in bilateral relations.
The renewed engagement follows the October 2024 disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and subsequent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in 2024 and again during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin in 2025.
The improvement in dialogue came after both countries reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the nearly 3,500-km LAC, helping ease a four-year military standoff.
Since then, both sides have taken several confidence-building measures, including the resumption of direct flights, relaxed visa norms, the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and preparations to reopen border trade points. The report says Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to China in July 2026 fits into this carefully calibrated process of engagement.
However, the PRF cautioned against viewing these developments as a complete normalisation of ties. It noted that key issues—including the unresolved boundary dispute, continued military deployments along the border, an imbalanced trade relationship and China’s growing strategic presence in India’s neighbourhood—remain unresolved.
According to the report, India’s policy continues to balance competition with selective cooperation wherever mutual interests exist, rather than seeking comprehensive reconciliation.
During his two-day visit to Beijing on July 27–28, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral relations.
Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, economic ties, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts while reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the border areas.
Misri also met Hong Liang, Deputy Secretary General of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), to discuss ways of strengthening political dialogue and people-to-people exchanges.
In addition, he held discussions with Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on implementing the understanding reached by Prime Minister Modi and President Xi to further develop bilateral relations.
The report concludes that while diplomatic engagement has increased, India’s approach remains pragmatic and cautious, with cooperation limited to areas of mutual benefit while keeping strategic competition firmly in view.
With inputs from IANS
