Modi Heads to China During US Trade Spat: A Sign of Independence?
NEW DELHI, India – August 7, 2025: Get this: Prime Minister Modi is going to China for the first time in ages—seven years, to be exact. The timing is interesting because it’s happening while we’re in a major trade fight with the United States.
Everyone’s saying that this trip, especially the expected meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, shows India’s serious about doing its own thing on the world stage. It might even mean we’re rethinking some of our alliances because of pressure from the Trump administration. The visit revolves around the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, August 31 to September 1, 2025.
First Trip Since That Galwan Thing
Yep, this is Modi’s first time in China since 2018, before that terrible clash in the Galwan Valley back in 2020. That event really messed up relations between the two countries. Modi and Xi last chatted at a BRICS meeting in Russia last year, but this is the first time in five years they’ll meet in China.
The trip is happening after both sides agreed on how to do patrols along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) late last year, which helped calm things down. The meeting will likely build on that and try to sort out those old border issues.
US Trade Problems in the Background
All this is happening while we’re in a big trade mess with the US. The Trump folks have slapped a combined 50% tariff on Indian goods because we’re still buying oil from Russia.
This tariff includes a new 25% thing starting on August 27, 2025. The US is basically trying to use money to make India fall in line with their foreign policy. President Trump keeps saying India is not a good trading partner and is not happy about our trade with Russia.
Timing is Everything.
People are saying the timing of Modi’s visit isn’t just a coincidence. It sends a message to Washington that India won’t be pushed around and is happy to talk to other big countries to protect itself.
Experts point out that this just confirms India’s way of doing things—being independent and making its own decisions without having to pick sides. Talking to China, even though things are complicated, is a way for India to show it’s not tied to anyone.
What to Expect
At the SCO Summit, Modi will probably have a one-on-one with Xi Jinping. While the main thing is the SCO stuff about regional security and working together on the economy, those private talks will be really important.
They’ll probably talk about the border issues and try to calm things down even more. There might also be a discussion about trade, since India has a huge trade gap with China that hit a record $99.2 billion last year.
India’s Money Moves
India’s trade with China has been surprisingly strong, growing by 81% over the last ten years. But most of that is because we’re buying a lot more from them, which is why India wants to fix that trade imbalance.
A recent report showed that India could sell another $161 billion worth of stuff to China, especially tech products. This visit could be a chance to talk about how to make trade fairer.
What’s Next?
This China trip, along with a planned visit to Japan and meetings with Russia’s Putin at the SCO summit, shows that India’s being active in its foreign policy, trying to balance things out with different countries. India’s actions are a direct response to the US’s recent trade moves.
It’s a risky move for India. It shows we’re independent, but it could also make things worse with the US and could be misused by other countries. This visit will be a big sign of how India plans to handle this crazy world we live in.
