The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin saw the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What raised eyebrows was the way Chinese state media showered praise on India and the Prime Minister, while simultaneously launching a tirade against the United States.
This naturally raises a question: should India take such appreciation at face value, or should it remain cautious?
In a strongly worded editorial, China&rsquo;s Global Times slammed the US, questioning why Washington is uncomfortable if India and China strengthen ties as neighbours. It went further to claim that America has no real respect for India.
On the other side, American media portrayed the Modi&ndash;Xi Jinping meeting as an outcome of Trump&rsquo;s tariff policies. Beijing countered that narrative, insisting the talks were not reactive, but rather part of a larger India&ndash;China geopolitical dialogue.
Yet history offers sobering lessons. In 1954, India signed the Panchsheel Agreement, endorsing &ldquo;Hindi&ndash;Chini Bhai Bhai&rdquo;. Within eight years, in 1962, China launched a war against India.
Over the last two decades, China&rsquo;s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative has expanded its influence across India&rsquo;s neighbourhood. In Nepal, leftist dominance has tilted policies against India. In Bangladesh, when US support receded, Beijing stepped in. In Sri Lanka and Pakistan, China invested heavily in ports. After India&rsquo;s ties with the Maldives soured in 2024, Beijing sought to tighten its grip there too. In Myanmar, China is accused of fuelling unrest in India&rsquo;s northeast.
Allegations by senior Indian leader Subramanian Swamy claim that China has encroached 4,067 sq km of Indian territory. Beijing has already extended its railway to the LAC and constructed an entire village along the Arunachal Pradesh border.
During past India&ndash;Pakistan conflicts, China openly supported Pakistan. Recently, Beijing signed a deal to provide F-35 fighter jets to Pakistan, promising to safeguard its sovereignty.
This underscores the real dilemma: Can India trust China?
Going forward, India must pursue a balanced geopolitical strategy. It cannot afford to blindly trust China, nor can it appear overly dependent on the US. Strategic autonomy demands that India maintains healthy ties with both Washington and Beijing, keeping leverage over each.
Equally important is repairing strained relations with neighbouring countries. Reviving SAARC should be a priority, so that China&rsquo;s encirclement strategy does not succeed.
In geopolitics, friendships are tested in times of crisis. India must remember: Pakistan keeps ties with the US, China, and Russia simultaneously. New Delhi must also play multi-layered diplomacy if it wants to protect its long-term national interests.

China praises India at SCO, but history warns: should India cheer or stay cautious?

India’s Strategy: Balance China and US

China praises India at SCO, but history warns: should India cheer or stay cautious?

September 5, 2025 | 11:51 IST