India-China Détente Cast in Trump’s Shadow

Last year, Wang Yi told Europeans that “Next China is also China,” a remark aimed at an essentially American quest—enthusiastically echoed by many in India—to find the “Next China.”

By MANIAH ANAND

NEW DELHI, August 20, 2025 — India and China ties are now on fast lanes to heal from wounds of recent years. Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi got a red-carpet welcome in New Delhi and also saw India accepting Chinese dependence on Beijing’s global leverages in critical rare earth and fertilizers.

After 24 rounds of talks on border management at the level of Special Representatives, a format worked out in 2005, India and China agreed to go for low-hanging fruits in delimitation of disputed borders in certain sectors. Amid immediate history of India facing ‘Salami Slicing’ by China in border areas, diplomatic circles are abuzz of a new reset in the bilateral ties between world’s two most populous nations.

Last year, Wang Yi had told Europeans that “Next China is also China.” The search for the “Next China” was essentially an American project, with Indian cheerleaders in plenty.

But the ongoing benign Monsoon with plenty of rains all around revealed the dark reality that India is far from facing the reality of becoming the “Next China.” Farmers in several states are protesting shortages of fertilizers. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s key trade intervention with Wang Yi included China resuming supplies of fertilizers.

China’s leverage in rare earth metals and fertilizers has been revealing after US President Donald Trump played his tariff cards. The US almost showed “Bend it like Bekham” skills to escape the fury of dragon.

In Trump’s myopic transactional world view, the US sank the “Next China” slogan into the Pacific. India, having already faced the rude shock in latter phases of Jo Biden Presidency with the US riding the Sikh extremists, finally admitted that Washington is not a trustworthy ally after Trump raised toasts for Pakistani skills of leveraging terrorists.

In the run up to India hosting the G20 Summit, former foreign secretary Shyam Saran in an interaction at the India International Centre had linked prospects of Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting to New Delhi with scope of positive development on border dispute resolution. Xi had stayed away while India and the US were unveiling grandiose plans for IMEC (India-Middle East and Europe Corridor) to rival Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Now, India and China on conclusion of Wang Yi visit affirmed to support each other in hosting multilateral events such as BRICS.

A direct flight is on an anvil. More Indian pilgrims may head to Mansarovar now. India and China will also open tourist gates for the people in two countries. China may also avoid compulsive habit of come grazing to intrude into Indian territory every four years. Trump legacy may count a reset in East-East relations, with Russia, China and India holding three pivots.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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