Jaishankar's First Visit to China in Five Years Aims to Ease Tensions

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Sunday evening, marking his first visit to China in five years. This trip occurs at a pivotal time as both nations attempt to mend their strained relationship, which deteriorated following the fatal clashes in Galwan Valley in 2020. Jaishankar is currently on a two-nation tour, having just completed discussions in Singapore, and plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

During his visit, Jaishankar will also take part in the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Tianjin on July 15. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that he will engage in additional bilateral dialogues alongside this meeting. This visit marks a significant diplomatic moment for Jaishankar, as it is his first since tensions escalated due to the military confrontation in Galwan.

Notably, Jaishankar's trip follows previous visits by India's Defence Minister and National Security Advisor to China, indicating a sequence of diplomatic engagements aimed at addressing ongoing issues. Meanwhile, there are indications that Wang Yi might visit India next month to meet with NSA Ajit Doval as part of a dialogue aiming to address the long-standing boundary dispute between the two countries.

Despite these diplomatic overtures, recent trade actions by China have raised concerns in New Delhi, with delays or halts to critical exports, including rare earth materials and equipment essential for infrastructure projects in India. Compounding these tensions is China's support for Pakistan, especially noted during recent conflicts, which presents additional hurdles for constructive dialogue at the SCO meeting.

Challenges may arise during the SCO discussions, especially since India previously declined to endorse a joint statement at the SCO defence ministers' meeting due to the omission of references to terrorism following a deadly attack in Pahalgam. A similar situation could develop during the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers, potentially complicating Jaishankar's negotiations.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation comprises several member states, including India, China, and Russia, among others, with upcoming events highlighting the collaborative efforts of these nations. The 2020 Galwan Valley incident significantly strained India-China relations, leading both countries to seek revised dialogue mechanisms to improve their interactions. Meanwhile, there have been some positive developments, such as the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended for almost five years. However, it remains uncertain whether Prime Minister Modi will participate in the SCO's annual summit in China later this year.