Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China between August 31 and September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the visit is essential for keeping regional diplomacy, opposition parties have been skeptical of the intent and possible results.
BJP Member of Parliament Ghulam Ali Khatana, in a statement to IANS, emphasized the importance of sustaining cordial ties with neighboring countries. “China is our neighbouring country, and it’s important to maintain good relations. We’ve always believed in strengthening ties with our neighbours, including Pakistan. Dialogue and diplomacy are key,” he said.
Conversely, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Ashok Kumar Mittal labeled the visit as a routine one, indicating that the visit might not carry much strategic importance. "PM Modi frequently visits abroad. It's a normal diplomatic interaction with political, business, and strategic talks. But if this visit is because of US-levied tariffs or international tensions, then that needs to be explained," he said.
The Congress party criticised more vehemently. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal asked about the use of the trip, citing recent geopolitical issues. "PM Modi has toured globally and marketed himself as a 'Vishwaguru'. But in times of crucial need like 'Operation Sindoor', we were all alone. What good will this trip do? The Prime Minister should categorically define its purpose and likely outcome," he claimed.
This will be PM Modi’s first visit to China since 2019, though he did have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit held in Kazan in October 2024.
The timing of the visit is significant, occurring amid growing trade frictions after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Indian exports and imposed further sanctions related to India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Experts believe Modi’s outreach to China may represent an effort to rebalance India’s foreign policy posture in light of escalating U.S. pressures.
However, the geopolitical landscape is still demanding. India remains suspicious about China's unflinching support for Pakistan, especially after the April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. In June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conspicuous in not signing a joint SCO defence communique that did not mention the Pahalgam incident, but did make mentions of Balochistan — an issue of concern to New Delhi.
Read also| Rahul Gandhi Appears in Chaibasa Court over Amit Shah Defamation Case, Receives Bail
