India's opposition parties and 'Sickular' detractors of Narendra Modi are trying to push a line that like a helpless wanderer India ahs 'emvraced' China pretty fast just because the US has abandoned it mid-way.
But it is also true in diplomacy things do not move so fast as TV anchors could imagine. The improvement of of ties between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi had actually began in September 2024.
The efforts and lengthy painstaking negotiations have ultimately given hopes of delivering dividends.
Of course the 'legacy' between New Delhi and Beijing is hardly of mutual satisfaction and trust.
The two Asian giants have lived through the process of living in fear, mistrust and acrimony. One or two more 'negative adjective catalysts' maybe comfortably added.
As news about Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi talking about fighting terror menace spread like wildfire in social media and also the electronic medium; one native analyst (desi) said to expect China protecting India against terrorism is like 'trusting the cat to guard the milk'.
But even my friend like many others agree that we need to thank Donald Trump that India (traditionally a status quoist and safe-playing stakeholder) has unleashed a tremendously new geopolitical power relations games.
Of course - it's somewhat risky. More so because it is immensely dangerous to trust China. But when a so-called 'friend' the US could betray to the extent that there is almost a "trade embargo' -- it is always advisable to try to select your new friends notwithstanding the risks.
Now take a close look at PM Narendra Modi's visits to Tokyo and Tianjin. Needless to say the two hubs could not be more different geopolitically. The port city Tianjin is hosting the SCO Summit. This hub once served 'imperial Beijing'. But in 2025 - China’s rise as a challenger to American primacy in Asia is represented by Tianjin.
Tokyo like the Japanese history and contemporary leadership is totally different.
New Delhi has its mission well defined. It needs Japan for technology and investments in infrastructure. This given the fact Japan, Australia and India along with the US had floated the Quad in 2017. Japan is also a long-lasting ally of the US since the second World War.
With China; India is eyeing a proper connectivity and of course good cooperation on security and trade.
President Xi Jinping has said that this year's SCO summit carries the important mission of building consensus, unleashing cooperation momentum, and mapping out a blueprint for development.
The Chinese media is hyping out the new terminology "SCO plus" and there are merits in doing so.
The SCO Summit will see the largest gathering since its establishment and this mirrors the strong cohesion as against the new global turbulence kicked off by whimsical style of functioning of one man.
The SCO has advanced the multilateral framework in 2025 and also has reshaped its concepts and pathways.
The SCO has also become both a staunch defender and a benchmark practitioner of multilateralism --where two fighting giants (mutually friends) Russia and India are looking for effective and purposeful international engagement.
These perceptions - thanks again to the US - are under erosion worldwide.
In Tokyo, Modi signed a raft of agreements to intensify commercial, technological, security and human-resource cooperation with Japan. This was much easier.
Dealing with China in China on the backdrop of setbacks in ties since 2020 is much tougher game ball.
It's fact that Trump has compelled these two Asian actors to recalibrate the ties.
Both India and China have faultlines. Those need to be set aside and both the nations should work new-relationship based strengths and try to compliment each other.
The opening up of the Kailash Yatra to Indians is a key confidence-building measure.
India must understand that China has gone ahead of us in technology and economy. But under Modi, there is a renewed confidence to do well. And that should count.
One key feature of Modi Govt's foreign policies since Operation Sindoor deserve appreciation - maybe with a pinch of salt - that no Indian leader made things appear 'personal' with Trump.
There were numerous provocations. Instead, Team Modi focused in last two-three months to fight 'pressure' and rebuild new ties with old friends and foes.
That's a matured way of doing things in the new century.
It's only China; India will try to rework ties also with Europe.
ends
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