India and China are slowly rebuilding their relationship after years of tension, especially since the deadly border clash in Galwan in 2020. Recently, India started giving tourist visas to Chinese citizens again after a gap of five years. This is a positive sign and shows India wants to restart people-to-people connections while keeping its guard up on security matters.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to China in July also showed a willingness to talk. It was the first high-level visit since the border crisis, and some agreements came out of it — such as sharing river data, restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and possibly resuming direct flights. But behind these positive steps lies a lot of mistrust, especially around China’s support to Pakistan and the growing military presence on both sides of the border.
While India is showing a smart and balanced approach — cooperating where possible and standing strong on national security — the truth is, we’re still walking on a thin rope. Military deployments remain high, and both sides know that even small mistakes can turn into bigger problems quickly.
Interestingly, US President Donald Trump’s new tariff policies are pushing India and China slightly closer — but only on the surface. Trump recently imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods, especially targeting India’s defence and energy links with Russia. His unpredictable decisions have hurt India’s trust in the US, even though the two countries share deep defence ties.
As a result, India is now keeping more options open — including limited cooperation with China — just in case things with the US go further downhill. But India’s main concern with China hasn’t changed. The biggest red flag remains Beijing’s support for Pakistan.
During the recent Operation Sindoor, China reportedly helped Pakistan with satellite data, military advice, and technology. Indian soldiers found Chinese equipment with terrorists, and Beijing even defended Pakistan diplomatically by blocking anti-terror resolutions at international forums. This shows that while China may talk peace with India, it continues to help India’s biggest rival in ways that harm regional stability.
Another major issue is China’s investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through parts of Kashmir claimed by India. China’s deep links with Pakistan’s military and economy are seen as a constant threat by Indian security experts.
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India and China now share over $118 billion in trade, but the trade gap is huge, with India importing far more than it exports. India depends on China for many electronics, components, and raw materials, which makes it hard to completely cut ties. That’s why India is trying to become more self-reliant through the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ plan. But building these capabilities will take time.
China, on the other hand, has used this economic relationship to pressure India — by delaying supply of key materials, holding back technical support, or limiting exports. This shows that trade doesn’t always lead to trust.
Even after some disengagement at the border in late 2024, more than 100,000 troops from both countries remain near the Line of Actual Control. This means that while they’re talking, they’re also preparing for the worst. The Indian defence leadership now sees China as a bully, not just a competitor.
In conclusion, the current thaw in India-China ties is more about managing a crisis than solving the core issues. There are too many unresolved problems — like the border dispute, China’s support to Pakistan, and growing military competition — for the relationship to fully heal any time soon.
India is doing well by staying open to dialogue while being firm on security. But unless China makes real changes in how it behaves — especially regarding Pakistan — this friendship will remain limited, fragile, and mostly tactical. Real peace will need more than handshakes and visas — it will require trust, and that still seems a long way off.
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