Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin marked a significant moment in India’s foreign policy, coming after a seven-year hiatus since his last trip to the country. The summit, held on August 31 and September 1, 2025, brought together a constellation of world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi’s interactions, both public and private, with these leaders have drawn global attention, not only for their optics but for the complex diplomatic balancing act they represent.
According to The Caravan, a viral clip from the summit showed Modi clasping hands with Putin and Xi, a gesture that seemed to encapsulate the trio’s public camaraderie. Putin reportedly referred to them as “We three friends” before the broadcast signal cut out, leaving many to speculate on the full context. Observers noted Modi’s nervous laughter during the exchange—a subtle tell of the diplomatic tightrope he’s walking amid shifting alliances and mounting pressures. The New York Times even likened Modi’s position at Tianjin to that of a “jilted lover,” referencing the recent chill in India’s relations with the United States under President Donald Trump.
The backdrop to Modi’s visit is a web of geopolitical tensions. As DT Next reports, the summit’s timing was critical, with the world watching Trump’s response to the gathering in China, India’s evolving ties with Russia, and Beijing’s assertive posture as a global superpower. Modi’s one-on-one meetings with Xi and Putin were, as the publication notes, a logical and necessary part of India’s effort to maintain its strategic autonomy. The summit also featured a grand military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. The spectacle was underscored by the joint appearance of Xi, Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—sending a powerful message of unity among countries often at odds with the US.
Putin, addressing the parade, thanked Kim for North Korean troops’ “courageous and heroic” fight against Ukrainian forces, and pledged support to help China surpass the US as the world’s top nuclear power producer. Trump, meanwhile, reacted with suspicion, accusing Xi of “conspiring against the US,” and in an interview, boasted of America’s military might. Putin, with characteristic wit, commented that Trump was displaying “a sense of humour” with such claims, according to DT Next.
For Modi, the summit was more than a photo opportunity. India’s participation at the highest level reaffirmed what DT Next describes as the Modi regime’s commitment to developing bilateral friendships for national security and economic benefit. It also signaled India’s intent to remain non-aligned, resisting pressure to pick sides in the growing US-China rivalry. Russia’s role as a “balancing” power was on full display, with Putin criticizing Trump’s “colonial era pressure tactics” of punitive tariffs against India and China. “These are powerful economies in their own right which deserve to be treated as partners,” Putin asserted, as quoted by DT Next.
The summit’s concrete outcomes were modest but symbolically important. India and China announced the resumption of flights that had been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic—a move anticipated for months, as reported by The Caravan. The Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage and trade through three border posts also resumed, signaling a thaw in bilateral ties. Yet, these gestures did little to address the major challenges facing the relationship, especially the tense situation on the border in eastern Ladakh.
Despite some disengagement in certain areas, Indian soldiers and graziers remain unable to access regions they could visit until May 2020. The creation of buffer zones—areas now inaccessible to both sides—has disproportionately disadvantaged India, as these zones encompass territory previously considered Indian. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described these as “steps of a temporary and limited nature” in Parliament, with the assurance they would be “revisited as the situation demands.” However, as The Caravan points out, no such revisitation has occurred in the past ten months, effectively cementing a new status quo established by the People’s Liberation Army and accepted by India.
Modi’s meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the summit focused on the importance of “peace and tranquility in the border areas for continued development of bilateral relations.” Xi, in turn, emphasized that “the two countries must not let the border issue come in the way” of improving ties. Both leaders struck a pragmatic tone, but the underlying distrust and unresolved disputes remain a shadow over the relationship.
Meanwhile, India’s trade negotiations with the US have stalled. The sixth round of talks, scheduled for August 25, was postponed following Trump’s escalation of tariffs. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, leading the Indian side, maintained optimism, stating both countries hoped to conclude a deal soon. Yet, Trump was adamant on September 3 that there would be “no lowering the punitive tariff imposed on India,” though he added, “we get along with India very well.” India has called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security, according to DT Next.
Despite these headwinds, India continues to pursue a strategy of diversification—exploring new trade deals with Europe, the Global South, and Eurasia. Its approach to China remains cautious, balancing vigilance against a potential adversary with the flexibility to engage on common interests. Modi’s stop in Japan en route to China reaffirmed India’s commitment to broader alliances, particularly with Quad members intent on countering China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
For all the drama and symbolism, the SCO summit underscored India’s belief in a multipolar world order and its resolve to maintain strategic autonomy. As DT Next notes, the triangular equation among the US, Russia, and India remains largely intact, even as the US-Israel axis continues to be a pillar of India’s foreign policy. The adverse comments from Trump about the SCO were seen as disapproval of China’s bid for superpower status, but they also highlighted the space India has carved out for itself as a major player on the global stage.
In the end, Modi’s visit to China may not have yielded dramatic breakthroughs, but it showcased India’s ability to navigate a world of shifting alliances and competing pressures, keeping its options open and its interests front and center.