Uneasy Partners

The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi marks a cautious attempt at resetting one of Asia’s most complex bilateral relationships.

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The outreach is notable because it comes after years of hostility, following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes of 2020 which ruptured the fragile trust that had built up between the two sides. Both governments now appear to recognise that prolonged antagonism is against their larger strategic and economic interests.

At the heart of Mr Yi’s message was the call for India and China to see one another as “partners, not adversaries.” His counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, was measured in tone but equally clear that ties must move “beyond a difficult period.” The symbolism is significant, but the substance matters more: restoration of pilgrimages, discussions on river data sharing, resumption of visa services, and even the prospect of reopening direct flights and border trade. These are building blocks of a tentative détente.