China Reminds Thaw in Relations with India 'Didn't Come Easily'

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Beijing says China-India ties should be “cherished” as both nations face Trump-era tariff threats and seek cooperation under BRICS

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

New Delhi, August 15, 2025 — Signalling a renewed push for stable relations, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on Friday said the “sustained improvement and development” of China-India ties “should be cherished.”

“The sustained improvement and development of China-India relations have not come easily and should be cherished,” posted Yu Jing, spokesperson for Chinese embassy in New Delhi on X. Her message came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort..

The remarks came a day after Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian described the relationship as a “cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant” — a metaphor for the two Asian giants working in harmony.

Lin was responding to a question on how Beijing views bilateral ties amid recent strains in India-US relations, particularly in the wake of new tariff threats from former US President Donald Trump targeting both Indian and Chinese exports.

“China and India are both major developing countries and important members of the Global South,” Lin said, adding that partnership and mutual success remain the “right choice” for both sides.

From Galwan to Gradual Rapprochement

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing plunged to their lowest point in decades after the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Since then, the two sides have held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks to manage tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). While troop disengagement has occurred in certain flashpoints, border frictions remain unresolved.

Despite the lingering mistrust, trade between the two countries has rebounded, and high-level diplomatic interactions — including on multilateral platforms — have slowly resumed. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is likely to be in New Delhi to hold the next round of discussions on border management with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also visiting China this month to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Leaders’ Summit. India and China are also in advanced stage talks to resume direct flights.

Facing a Common Economic Threat

Trump’s renewed tariff rhetoric has emerged as a rare point of convergence for Beijing and New Delhi. Both countries face potential US trade barriers on electronics, textiles, and strategic minerals — a development that could push them toward closer economic coordination in forums like BRICS.

BRICS as a Strategic Platform

China and India, alongside Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, have used BRICS to position themselves as voices for the Global South, calling for a multipolar world order and reforms to global trade governance. In the face of Western economic pressures, BRICS has increasingly become a stage where Beijing and New Delhi can cooperate despite their border disputes.

The latest Chinese statements suggest Beijing is keen to frame its relationship with India not as a zero-sum rivalry, but as a partnership capable of advancing shared interests — especially when geopolitical headwinds from Washington threaten both economies.

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