Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and Its Neighbourhood, Issue: Recent reset in India-China ties.
Context:
On 31 August 2025, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin, China, the Prime Minister of India held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. This marked the first official visit of the Indian PM to China in 7 years, signalling a diplomatic reset after prolonged tensions following the Doklam (2017) and Galwan Valley (2020) clashes.
Key Takeaways:
Recent evolution: From Doklam to Diplomatic Thaw:
| Past Tensions | Doklam standoff (2017) and Galwan clash (2020) caused military casualties, the first along the LAC in 45 years.Bilateral relations were near standstill. |
| Steps Towards Recovery | Multiple Corps Commander-level talks have been held recently to de-escalate tensions.2024 India-China Border Patrol Agreement:Restored patrolling in Depsang Plains and Demchok.Structured arrangements to maintain status quo along LAC. |
Key border agreements between China and India:
| Agreements | Year | Key Provisions |
| BPTA (Border Peace & Tranquillity Agreement) | 1993 | Peaceful resolution of border issue, respect for the LAC, maintain minimal force and joint checks in disputed areas. |
| CBMs Extension | 1996 | Military confidence-building, reduction/limitation of forces, avoid large exercises near LAC |
Key Outcomes of the 2025 Bilateral Meeting:
Implications of the recent reset:
- Promotes multipolar Asia and world order.
- Emphasizes Panchsheel principles: mutual respect, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, peaceful coexistence.
- Cooperation on terrorism, fair trade, and global governance through BRICS and SCO.
Challenges still persist:
- LAC issue: At the Eastern & Western sectors, there is no common LAC definition providing scope for ambiguity.
- Shadow of -previous failures: Previous instances of failed map exchanges as happened in 2002, and 2005 due to maximalist positions.
- Recurring flashpoints: Depsang, Pangong Tso, Demchok, Arunachal Pradesh.
Future Outlook:
- Pragmatic engagement model: Cooperation in mutually beneficial areas while managing differences.
- Long-term stability framework: Regular high-level dialogues and commitment to peaceful dispute resolution.
- Pushing for deeper engagement:
- Strengthen strategic communication and trust.
- Expand exchanges and cooperation.
- Achieve mutual benefit while accommodating concerns.
- Strengthen multilateral cooperation to safeguard common interests.
Conclusion:
The 2025 SCO bilateral meeting reflects a mature, pragmatic approach to India-China relations. It establishes a framework to manage differences while maximizing cooperation in trade, technology, and people-to-people ties. It has regional and global implications, supporting stability in Asia and promoting India’s vision of a multipolar world.
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