PM Modi Likely to Visit China for SCO Summit, First Trip Since Border Standoff
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China from August 31 to September 1 for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This would mark his first visit to the country since the military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in 2020. The trip, which may also include a stop in Japan, is being viewed as a potentially significant diplomatic step toward stabilizing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors after years of heightened border tensions and military disengagement talks.
Unpacked:
The standoff began after Chinese and Indian troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, leading to violent confrontations, including the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops.
The SCO summit provides a platform for India and China to engage diplomatically, discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and potentially ease tensions. It also allows both countries to interact with other major regional powers and showcase their commitment to multilateralism and regional stability.
Yes, Modi and Xi last met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024, which marked the beginning of efforts to stabilize bilateral relations after the military tensions.
Modi is expected to visit Japan for the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This visit emphasizes India’s strategy to strengthen ties with key Asian partners, promote economic and security cooperation, and balance regional influences, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.