Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a significant two-nation visit to Japan and China, commencing August 29. Central to this trip is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first bilateral discussion in seven years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for his two-nation visit to Japan and China today, August 28, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin being the key highlight, as he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and is expected to hold a first-ever bilateral in seven years. Let’s take a look what to expect and what could be on cards:
- The visit to China is significant, as it will mark the first direct meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in seven years, especially after relations between the two nations nose-dived following the 2020 Galwan clash.
- The meeting also comes at a time when India is facing challenging relations with the United States, which, under Donald Trump’s administration, has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, including 25 per cent on purchases of Russian oil, which US believes is what funding Moscow to continue the Ukraine war.
- Interestingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be travelling to China to attend the SCO Summit, and it remains to be seen whether PM Modi and Putin will hold a bilateral meeting amid US pressure to withdraw from purchasing Russian oil.
- Given that US pressure on India stems mainly from two issues: purchasing Russian oil and not opening the Indian market in the agriculture and livestock sectors for US players, which has prevented a bilateral trade deal between India and the US, New Delhi may chalk out a strategy with China and Russia.
- It also remains to be seen whether there will be any significant development between India and China as Beijing has been viewed globally recently as softening its stance towards India and even supporting Indian arguments before the US administration, backing New Delhi for not bowing to US pressure.
- China has signalled its willingness to open its market to all Indian goods in view of Trump’s tariffs, given that Indian exports to the US under 50 per cent duty are facing significant challenges. So it remains to be seen whether there will be any progress related to Indian exports to China, as New Delhi is already exploring alternative markets.
- Not just India, but Beijing too has been facing US pressure over tariffs and exports of rare earths to America. The situation remains fragile, as it is difficult to predict Donald Trump’s next move. Therefore, China is being highly calculative and is working to improve relations with India to counterbalance the US.
- The SCO Summit will also be the occasion where Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be present. It will be the first time since India’s successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ that PM Modi and his Pakistani counterpart will be on the same stage. Operation Sindoor, conducted to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians including one Nepalese were brutally shot dead in front of their families, struck Pakistan hard, destroying its air defence systems and reducing several terror camps to dust.