As the rift between India and the United States deepens under Donald Trump’s second term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is recalibrating India’s foreign policy — and China is emerging as a key part of the strategy.
In a quiet but deliberate shift, India and China have begun restoring bilateral relations long frozen by years of mutual distrust. This year alone, direct commercial flights between the two countries resumed for the first time since 2020, and India lifted its ban on tourist visas for Chinese citizens. These gestures, while limited, are the first green shoots of a broader diplomatic recovery.
The change in tone is mirrored in the security domain. On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart to explore ways to further de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control — the disputed Himalayan border that has long been a flashpoint. The talks reflect a growing recognition in both capitals that managed engagement is better than prolonged confrontation.
China has responded with cautious optimism. While Chinese state media continues to critique India’s investment climate, it also recognizes the potential for shared regional leadership. “India remains an essential partner in building a multipolar Asia,” a recent editorial in the Global Times stated, highlighting Beijing’s shifting attitude.
The primary driver behind India’s eastward tilt is the collapse in trust with Washington. Trump’s latest tariffs on Indian goods — introduced in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil — have hit sectors like pharmaceuticals, textiles, and auto parts hard. In addition, stalled defense deals and reduced tech cooperation are undermining the foundations of the once-budding U.S.–India strategic partnership.
Faced with the growing unpredictability of American foreign policy, India is hedging. Engagement with China, participation in BRICS forums, and deeper ties with Russia are part of a broader effort to protect its economic and geopolitical interests in an increasingly unstable global environment.
This new strategy does not mean that India fully trusts China — far from it. But it does suggest that New Delhi sees value in restoring diplomatic communication and trade channels with its northern neighbor, even if full normalization remains elusive.
As Trump’s America turns inward, Modi’s India is turning pragmatic. The future of Asia may well be written not in Washington, but in the cautious, calculated engagement between Beijing and New Delhi.
