Wang Yi’s India visit signals cautious thaw, Jaishankar presses for forward movement on border de-escalation

In a visit seen as a critical step in repairing strained ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in New Delhi on August 18 for a two-day trip — the first by a senior Chinese leader since India and China completed their troop disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) last November.

As he welcomed Wang, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar struck a firm yet conciliatory note, stressing that “the de-escalation process must move forward” if the two neighbours are to rebuild momentum in their fraught relationship.

Wang’s visit comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely first trip to China in seven years for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. If confirmed, Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping — their first substantive engagement since the 2020 Galwan clashes plunged ties to their lowest point in decades.

Boundary talks back on track

The centrepiece of Wang’s visit will be the 24th round of Special Representatives’ talks on the boundary dispute on Tuesday, where he will meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The meeting marks a continuation of the dialogue that resumed in December after years of stalemate. Unlike his last India visit in April 2022, Wang is also scheduled to call on Modi this time — a move viewed as a signal of Beijing’s intent to reset ties.

While disengagement has taken place at friction points in eastern Ladakh, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 troops remain deployed on both sides of the LAC. “The basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas,” Jaishankar said. “That makes progress on de-escalation essential.”

Resetting the relationship

Jaishankar underscored that India and China must be guided by the “three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest” — cautioning that differences should not be allowed to harden into disputes. His public remarks touched on terrorism, global stability, multilateral reforms, and the need for a balanced world order, reflecting India’s wider concerns even as it attempts to repair ties with Beijing.

Both sides have signaled intent to normalise engagement: New Delhi has resumed issuing visas to Chinese nationals, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has restarted, and talks are underway to restore direct flights. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have already visited China this year, while Jaishankar and Doval have held multiple rounds of dialogue with their counterparts.

Beijing’s message

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the boundary talks have played “a positive and constructive role,” and stressed that China hopes to “enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, and promote sustained, sound and steady development of China-India relations.”

For now, Wang’s visit sets the stage for a delicate balancing act: stabilising a turbulent relationship scarred by border conflict, while creating room for cooperation in a shifting global order marked by trade tensions and strategic rivalries.