September 3, 2025

In a powerful and rare moment, the world’s three major non-Western leaders—Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Narendra Modi—stood together laughing and holding hands like old friends. This was not just a friendly meet-up but a clear message of defiance, especially towards Donald Trump, who had recently slapped India with hefty 50% import tariffs. "India likes other great powers to know that New Delhi has options," said Christopher Clary, a political science expert from the University at Albany, State University of New York. "One advantage of being in lots of clubs is you can make high-profile entrances to those clubs if you’re upset with how things are going in other relationships." Modi’s visit to China was his first in seven years and came to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the city of Tianjin. The usual hostility between India and China was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Modi got a warm welcome from Chinese leader Xi Jinping—the kind few guests enjoy. This joyful meeting drew sharp reactions from the US. Hours later, Trump called trade with India a “one-sided disaster” and his adviser Peter Navarro criticized Modi, saying on social media, "It is a shame to see Modi getting in bed with Xi Jinping and Putin. I’m not sure what he’s thinking." Only a year ago, tensions between India and China were fierce. Since 2020, their armies faced off violently along the Himalayan border after China’s army crossed the line. Massive troop build-ups followed. India banned hundreds of Chinese apps like TikTok and blocked investments from Chinese companies. The US used this friction to grow closer to India, seeing it as a key player to counter China's rise. But Trump’s surprise tariff hike changed the game. India felt hurt, especially since Modi didn’t credit Trump for helping avoid a nuclear war with Pakistan in May. Instead of a friendly ally, the US seemed unstable and even hostile toward India. China watched this strained India-US drama with pleasure. During Modi’s China visit, the leaders agreed to become friends again, aiming to stabilize their border and reopen trade. Xi said, "It was vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and the dragon and the elephant to come together." Experts say this thaw had started before Trump’s second term, but his unpredictable style sped things up. "This meeting was a partial response to Trump’s tariff tantrum," said Clary. "India lacks enough military strength to be sure of winning a fight with China. With no steady outside ally, India must keep peace with China." Five years back, Modi had warmly welcomed Xi to India right after becoming PM. Harsh V Pant from King’s College London thinks the leaders want to get back to that friendship, though the border still troubles them. India stands to gain by improving ties with China, especially since much Indian manufacturing depends on Chinese materials. China would also benefit if it regained access to India’s huge market. But it’s not all smooth. China backs Pakistan with weapons and supported Pakistan in May’s clashes, which keeps trust between India and China shaky. Pant warns, "It would be a mistake to view this as some kind of grand rapprochement. The trust deficit is still very high, and many pressure points will keep the relationship tense." So, while Modi’s friendly hugs with Putin and Xi send a strong message, the road ahead for India’s ties with China remains full of surprises and challenges.

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Tags: Modi, Xi jinping, Vladimir putin, India-china relations, Us tariffs, Shanghai cooperation organisation,