Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the SCO summit at the end of August — visiting China after more than seven years. The visit signals a significant diplomatic thaw between the two neighbours and comes amid escalating tensions with the United States. Top Indian leaders have also visited Beijing in recent months to stabilise and rebuild strained India-China relations, following years of border clashes and tensions since 2020. Modi had previously met Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in October 2024.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will offer both countries a chance to engage in bilateral talks about border de-escalation, terrorism concerns, regional stability and more. It will also allow for multilateral engagement with leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin — coming at a time when US President Donald Trump has imposed additional tariffs against New Delhi for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
India-China ties – What has changed since 2020?
The India-China relationship had come under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. Multiple skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control had left 20 Indian soldiers dead and others injured after China made an unilateral bid to change the status quo in the area.
The two sides also initiated a number of initiatives to rebuild ties over the past year — including the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. New Delhi also restarted the issuance of tourist visas for Chinese nationals last month after a five-year hiatus. Both sides are also discussing modalities to resume direct flight services between the two countries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval have all visited China in the last two months to attend SCO meetings. Modi had also met with Xi during the BRICS Summit in 2024 — — with India and China announcing plans for disengagement of troops in Depsang and Demchok following the interaction. The Chinese President, however, skipped the event this year, with some suggesting that strained ties with India and shifting strategic calculations may be key reasons.
Geopolitical upheaval and Trump policies
Recent geopolitical developments have, however, pushed China and India towards closer co-operation. Both countries have indicated a willingness for diplomatic engagement in recent months, with top leaders attending multiple SCO meetings in China. There have also been numerous high-level bilateral meetings and dialogues at various levels between Indian and Chinese officials throughout 2025.
But the upcoming visit to China also carries strategic implications beyond bilateral relations. It comes amid strained relations between India and the United States — including heavy US tariffs on Indian goods and continued pressure over its purchase of Russian oil. The upcoming SCO meeting will also allow India to underscore its strategic autonomy and non-alignment with any one power.
US President Donald Trump has vehemently pushed an ‘America First’ policy since coming into power at the beginning of 2025. India has since taken a pragmatic approach to its China relationship — rather than relying on the increasingly transactional and unpredictable US partnership under the Republican leader.
BRICS alliance
The India-US situation has worsened in recent weeks with Trump now imposing his highest highest of tariffs (50% against most imports) against India. Brazil also faces a similar levy of 50% while China — despite a protracted trade war — is currently being tariffed at 30%. Meanwhile, Russia (considered an ally of sorts both New Delhi and Beijing) remains under heavy sanctions for its ongoing war against Ukraine — as well as being the core cause for some of the tariffs.
All four countries are members of the BRICS alliance and (more recently) the focus of President Trump’s ire. The US President had also threatened to impose additional tariffs — 10% or even up to 100% in earlier rhetoric — on countries that align themselves with BRICS and its “anti-American” policies.
Ajit Doval meets Russian officials
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a meeting with senior Russian officials on Wednesday — even as US President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs against India for purchasing oil from the other country. Top officials from both countries reportedly discussed India-Russia defence and security cooperation during the meeting. Doval reached Moscow on Wednesday for an annual meeting with his Russian counterpart. The NSA is also slated to call on President Vladimir Putin ahead of his visit to India later this year. It is pertinent to note that Putin will also be one of the top leaders participating in the SCO Summit this year.
China buying Russian oil?
China is also a major buyer of Russian oil — remaining mostly unaffected as Trump imposed additional tariffs against India. Beijing has purchased about 47% of Russian crude exports in 2025 and increased its buying of copper, aluminum, and natural gas from Russia. The relationship is critical for Moscow to sustain its economy following extensive sanctions over its Ukraine invasion in 2022.
Trump has hinted that tariffs remain under consideration for the Chinese purchase of oil from Russia. The US had engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat trade war with Beijing earlier this year — with US raising tariffs as high as 145%. Meanwhile, China had capped the number at 125% — insisting that it was meaningless to engage in further escalation. The two countries have since reached preliminary deals to end escalating tit-for-tat tariffs and a cut-off of rare earth minerals. The country is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with the US administration. Trump also told CNBC during an interview earlier this week that the US was close to a trade deal with China. He also indicated plans to meet his Chinese counterpart,the Xi Jinping, before the end of the year if an agreement is struck.
Trump-Putin meeting?
US special envoy Steve Witkoff also made a trip to Moscow on Wednesday — with Trump later hailing “great progress” in talks about the Ukraine war. White House officials have suggested that Putin and Trump could meet as soon as next week to discuss the war in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether such an interaction will impact the newly announced tariffs before they take effect at the end of August.