India-China Relations
India was taken aback by US President Donald Trump's self-proclaimed role in Operation Sindoor. Furthermore, Trump, unhappy with India's purchase of oil and defense products from Russia, has posed a new challenge by implementing a 50 percent tariff on India. This tariff dispute started by the United States is harming the economic interests of both India and China. Neither country is fond of Trump's forceful methods. Despite China's open support, Pakistan's association with the US is also having a negative impact on China. As a result, China is now drawing nearer to India.
This closeness was clearly visible from the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India. Even though America was trying to work together with India to counter China in the matter of South China Sea or Indo-Pacific, but the way Trump adopted a pro-Pakistan stance in Operation Sindoor by repeating inconsistent things has disappointed India. First, China started the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Then India opened visas for Chinese tourists. Gradually exchanges and dialogues are resuming at all levels. All these steps are showing a positive trend towards the return of cooperation between the two countries.
During the talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, supply-related issues were discussed. Both sides acknowledged that the current US policies are against both India and China. Whether it is trade restrictions or rules related to technology, both India and China need mutual coordination to deal with it.
In this meeting, while on the one hand the discussion on the border dispute was postponed and it was left for talks at the level of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, on the other hand, there was major progress on issues like supply and economic cooperation. The special thing was that Jaishankar made it clear that India's stand on Taiwan has not changed and it will be limited only to economic and cultural relations. Meanwhile, America's policies emerged as a challenge for both the countries and it was believed that in the current global situation, India and China will have to pursue common interests by increasing dialogue. The question now is whether this new initiative is the beginning of a new innings of friendship in India-China relations or is it only a temporary equation? China has assured India that it will soon resume the supply of fertilizers (urea, NPK, DAP), rare earth minerals and tunnel boring machines. It is worth noting that China had banned these for the last one year, due to which India had to face many difficulties. About 30 percent of India's agricultural needs depend on fertilizers coming from China. At the same time, rare earth minerals play an important role in the automobile industry and high-tech equipment. Similarly, tunnel boring machines are very important for urban and road infrastructure projects.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also put forth his views on the border dispute. India has always been a supporter of the fact that the basis of positive momentum between the two countries is the ability to jointly maintain peace and harmony in the border areas. In the last few years, there has been a lot of tension between India and China, from the Galwan Valley to the trade dispute. India wants that the army deployed on the 3488 km long Line of Actual Control should be sent back to the barracks. Although many issues have been resolved in Ladakh, the armies of both the countries are still present in large numbers on the border. Describing the need for peace on the border, the Foreign Minister said that a clear and constructive approach is needed from both sides. In this effort, we should work with three mutual principles of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest. Differences should not turn into disputes, competition and conflict. The Chinese Foreign Minister also gave a big message that both the countries will have to see each other as partners and not enemies. Without naming America, he said that the tendency of one-sided pressure and bullying is increasing rapidly in the world, free trade and the international system are facing serious challenges. In such a situation, both countries will have to show unity.
India is currently reliant on China for agricultural and development project supplies, while China's need for India's vast market is crucial to counteract U.S. tariffs and address economic issues. In a world with multiple power centers, India must devise a thorough strategy amid the trade uncertainties caused by the tariff conflict. Next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he will also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both nations have redefined their diplomatic ties to mitigate the impact of Trump's tariff policies. Driven by strategic pragmatism, India and China are slowly drawing closer. India should avoid getting involved in the trivial politics of Pakistan's leaders and must establish a cooperative framework with China for an alternative trade system. The two countries are interdependent, and it is hoped that the tensions in India-China relations will eventually dissipate. If India, Russia, and China unite, Trump will be unable to harm any of them.