Modi’s Diplomatic Visit to China: A Thaw in India-China Relations
By Prabha Gupta, August 30,2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits China for the SCO Summit after a seven-year pause in state visits. His last trip was in 2019. Since then, bilateral ties froze under tensions sparked by the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict. Yet, late 2024 marked a thaw when India and China agreed to resume patrols along the Line of Actual Control. Leaders describe the summit as a diplomatic spring, where frosted relations melt through dialogue.
Buried Fault Lines: A Brief Iceberg History of Conflicts
Tensions between India and China trace back decades—from the 1962 war through the 2017 Doklam standoff. The 2020 Galwan clash deepened mistrust, crippling diplomatic channels. However, earlier confidence-building accords in 1993, 1996, and 2013 offered glimpses of warmth. Renewing patrol protocols in 2025 indicates cautious thawing.The Washington Post
Spiritual Thunder Along Diplomatic Clouds: Dalai Lama’s Succession Row
Just as diplomatic ice slowly melts, a storm has brewed over the 14th Dalai Lama’s succession. At 90, he declared that the Gaden Phodrang Trust—not Beijing—will choose his reincarnation. Moreover, he said his successor should be born in the “free world,” beyond Chinese reach.
The Washington Post
China slammed the claim, insisting that reincarnations must follow the “Golden Urn” method and await government approval. India countered—without taking a religious stance—but supported spiritual freedom and upheld the Dalai Lama’s personal choice.
Dalai Lama Asserts Sole Authority Over His Reincarnation, Rejects China’s Involvement Jul 30, 2025
This row casts a shadow over Modi’s diplomatic thaw. It underscores that even spiritual succession decisions echo into geopolitical cracks, reminding India and China that some frost persists.Reuters
Can this Visit Mend Bridges—or Just Melt Surface Ice?
Modi’s summit appearance replays a symbolic spring thaw in bilateral relations. Border trust may warm, trade may resume, and Beijing may see India as a willing partner. Yet the Dalai Lama succession dispute reminds us that beneath thawing diplomacy, the glacier of mistrust still endures. True warmth demands long-term confidence-building—not just surface-level defrosting.
