After US tariffs, India and China are moving closer with resumed flights, fertilizer trade, and upcoming SCO talks. PM Modi’s visit may mark a new chapter in Asia’s diplomacy.
In a significant diplomatic shift, relations between India and China are showing clear signs of improvement following the recent wave of U.S. tariffs under Donald Trump’s administration. The tariffs, which hit both Asian economies, appear to have pushed New Delhi and Beijing toward greater cooperation.
According to reports, a confidential letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indian officials earlier this year raised concerns about U.S. trade moves that could damage China’s interests. That outreach is now being seen as a turning point that reopened doors for dialogue between the two neighbors.
Several positive steps have already been taken. Direct flights between India and China have resumed after years of suspension, signaling a gradual return of people-to-people exchange. Beijing has also restarted urea exports to India, offering a lifeline to Indian agriculture. Furthermore, sanctions imposed on India after Operation Sindoor are reportedly easing, another indication of improving trust.
Looking ahead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for important overseas visits, including trips to Japan and China. His expected participation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin could bring both sides closer, while also creating opportunities for trilateral talks with Russia.
For Washington, this warming relationship may be a matter of concern, as closer India–China cooperation could alter Asia’s strategic balance. Yet for Asia and the Global South, it carries the promise of stability and shared growth.
As two of the “twin engines of Asia’s economic rise,” India and China appear ready to test a new chapter in their complex relationship—one that is guided not by rivalry, but by necessity, cooperation, and the pursuit of a multipolar world.