Modi to Visit China for First Time in 7 Years as US Tensions Mount
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to China for the first time in over seven years. He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled to begin on August 31, 2025, in Tianjin. This visit marks his first since June 2018, following a sharp downturn in India–China relations triggered by a deadly military clash in 2020.
Relations between New Delhi and Washington have taken a severe hit. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods—bringing the total to 50%—in response to India’s purchases of Russian oil. This move has escalated tensions and hit key Indian export sectors like textiles, gems, and pharmaceuticals.
Modi’s decision to visit China at this time is seen as a diplomatic shift, potentially signaling a realignment as disagreements with the U.S. deepen. India and Brazil’s leaders have already discussed these tensions, with Modi and Brazil’s President Lula planning to raise the issue within the BRICS group.
India–China ties had begun to thaw earlier, with Modi and China’s Xi Jinping meeting on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in Russia last year. Modi’s upcoming SCO visit may further soften strains and open avenues for renewed engagement between India and China.
