China and India can coexist despite rivalry, Xi tells Modi at summit

Despite rivalry, China-India coexistence is not a pipe dream

The encounter between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan was short and carefully choreographed while delivering a warm message. This interaction occurred after Modi had stated that stable and predictable ties between two of Earth's largest nations matter for multipolar Asia and world stability.

A larger moment is expected on September 12 and 13 when Xi visits New Delhi, marking his first trip to India in seven years. He is likely to lead a delegation comprising some 400 officials attending the Brics summit. No honest account of the emerging thaw in Sino-Indian relations can leave out this leader who remains absent from direct bilateral discussions at this stage.

US President Donald Trump's imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods last year pushed Delhi and Beijing closer than any charm offensive could have, even though tariff rates were reduced later that year. For much of the past five years, Beijing was content to let the freeze along the Line of Actual Control set the tone for their relationship dynamics.

However, a China facing sustained pressure from the United States and an uncertain global economy has every reason not to keep a second front open with a rising neighbour. This neighbour is described as having more than 1.4 billion people. Xi made this strategic shift explicit by telling Modi that the two nations should be partners rather than rivals.

In Beijing's view, the dragon and the elephant should dance together instead of trampling each other. When China's envoy offers to stand firm with India against outside pressure, the strategic logic writes itself according to analysts observing these developments. Despite rivalry, coexistence between the two nations is not viewed as a pipe dream by researchers tracking this geopolitical shift.

India has no interest in endless confrontation while Beijing holds every reason to prefer a predictable India over another unresolved front. A China facing sustained pressure from the United States and an uncertain global economy has found reasons to avoid maintaining a second front with such a rising neighbour as India. Xi Jinping is expected to lead a delegation of some 400 officials during his upcoming visit to New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

Gaurav Kumar notes that while friendship powered by shared irritation can cool once the irritation fades, it does not mean there should be gloom over relations. Rather, experts suggest building something durable now while an opening exists with will to act on both sides present. India hedges by instinct according to observations of its diplomatic behaviour patterns in this context.

The message conveyed during the summit was that despite existing rivalry between nations, coexistence remains a viable and pursued path forward for regional stability. The shift towards partnership rather than confrontation appears driven by external pressures including those from Washington regarding trade policies affecting Indian goods.

Source: South China Morning Post