Is PM Modi China visit 2025 is Successful?
Is PM Modi China visit 2025 is Successful
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China from August 30 to September 1, 2025, marked his first trip to the country in seven years, primarily to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. This was a significant diplomatic event, hosted by China under its SCO presidency, and attended by leaders from member states including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian nations. The visit occurred against the backdrop of thawing India-China relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash (which killed 20 Indian and at least 4 Chinese soldiers) and escalating U.S.-India trade tensions due to 50% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Indian exports, citing India's purchases of Russian oil.
Yes, Modi's 2025 China visit can be considered successful based on diplomatic, economic, and strategic metrics. It achieved a symbolic and substantive reset in India-China relations without compromising India's core interests, such as border security and anti-terrorism. The visit injected "new momentum" into ties, as noted by Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong, and was hailed by Modi as advancing global peace and prosperity.
- Strengths and Substantiation: The resumption of flights, yatra, and trade dialogues directly addresses post-2020 barriers, boosting people-to-people and economic exchanges (bilateral trade hit $118 billion in 2024). Modi's firm stance on terrorism (e.g., Pahalgam attack) ensured SCO outcomes aligned with India's priorities, while bilaterals with Putin and others reinforced energy security amid U.S. tariffs. Analysts like those from the Takshashila Institution describe it as a "strategic recalibration" rooted in economic necessity, not a full alliance shift. Global media (e.g., Reuters, The Guardian, CNN) portray it as a "thaw under pressure," with positive optics for both nations.
- Challenges and Criticisms: Not all views are unanimous. India's opposition Congress party criticized it as legitimizing "Chinese bullying" and questioned the "new normal" of reconciliation amid unresolved territorial issues. Some Chinese analysts expressed skepticism about India's commitment to SCO/BRICS, citing past abstentions (e.g., Modi attended only 3 of 10 recent SCO summits). The border dispute remains unresolved, with ongoing LAC reinforcements by China, and trade imbalances persist. A planned special banquet for Modi was canceled due to logistics, though this was not seen as a setback.
- Long-Term Impact: The visit bolsters India's role in non-Western forums like SCO and BRICS (India assumes BRICS chair in 2026), helping counter U.S. economic coercion. It signals to Washington that India won't be a "schoolkid" in global affairs, as one U.S. journalist noted. However, sustaining this momentum requires follow-through on trade equity and border de-escalation, as historical mistrust lingers.
Overall, the visit advanced India's "strategic autonomy" in a multipolar world, making it a diplomatic win despite complexities.
Source Grok
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