Act East In Action: Why Timing Is Key In PM Modi’s China Visit China, First Since 2020 Galwan Clash
PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit China for the first time since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash (Image courtesy: AI pic)
In a first in 7 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit China, marking his first trip to the country since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. Bilateral relations between India and China took a severe hit by incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020.
While PM Modi has met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of various multilateral summits, his trip to China would be the first in 7 years. His last trip to Qindao in China on June 9-10 in 2018. In his meeting with Jinping, PM Modi was suggested that the two countries should set a new trade target of $100 billion by 2020.
PM Modi’s latest visit to China, if that happens, could come on August 31 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, taking place from August 31 to September 1. This could give a significant push to India’s Act East Policy launched in 2014 to focus on the extended neighbourhood in the Indo-Pacific region, with ASEAN as its core.
PM Modi China visit: Why it matters?
Scheduled for later this month, the key visit would come at a time when there is a strong push by both New Delhi and Beijing to stabilise strained bilateral ties. Moreover, this proposed visit by PM Modi would come after External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent trip.
This high-level Beijing trip was seen as the strongest indication yet of a slow but deliberate reset in the turbulent India-China relationship. Amid the increasing tensions with the US, New Delhi seems to have levelled up its Act East game as this diplomatic recalibration comes when there is a growing economic pressure from the United States.
While India and China have their fair share of tensions, US President Donald Trump’s tariff tantrums could be sending a nudge to New Delhi to better its ties with Beijing.
How important is timing in PM Modi’s visit to China?
PM Modi had last met Chinese President Jinping during a BRICS Summit in 2024 in Russia’s Kazan, marking the first formal meeting in 5 years. The meeting gained significance as it came on the heels of New Delhi and Beijing reaching an agreement on patrolling arrangements in areas along the LAC.
Moreover, India is now worried over the high tariffs imposed by Trump, who announced additional 25% levy on Indian goods in the US on Wednesday. The US President continues to threaten India with higher tariffs and penalties for purchasing Russian oil. New Delhi is not alone in this as the ties between the US and China also remain volatile.
Early this year, the 47th US President imposed a series of steep tariffs, including fentanyl‑related duties and sweeping “reciprocal” charges. This led to US tariffs on Chinese goods to as high as 145% while China’s retaliatory duties reached 125%.
Like India, China too has asserted that it will continue to pursue energy security “in ways that serve our national interests”. With this, Beijing has warned Washington that “coercion will not work.” China’s deputy envoy to the UN Geng Shuang also lashed out at the US for its hypocrisy in buying Russian goods while punishing others for the same.
