Modi Heads to China for SCO Summit Amid Global Frictions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This high-stakes trip holds considerable diplomatic weight, marking Modi’s first visit to China since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. As geopolitical tensions mount globally — including U.S. criticism of Brics nations for their oil trade with Russia — Modi’s presence at the summit signals India’s intent to reassert its strategic position in a divided global landscape.

The SCO, founded in 2001, brings together ten nations — including China, Russia, and India — and is seen as a platform to foster security, political cooperation, and regional economic integration across Eurasia.

Modi’s Diplomatic Tour: Japan, Then China

Before heading to China, PM Modi will travel to Japan on August 30 for the annual India-Japan summit with his counterpart Fumio Kishida. This reflects India’s balancing act between Western allies and emerging Asian powers. Following the Japan leg, Modi will land in Tianjin for the SCO meet, which will host leaders from all 10 member states including Belarus, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan.

Return to China: First Since Galwan and Signs of Normalisation

This will be Modi’s first step on Chinese soil since 2019 — a visit overshadowed in hindsight by the 2020 Galwan clash that severely strained bilateral ties. While military disengagement at the border continues slowly, both nations have recently engaged in confidence-building measures, including the revival of the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra. Modi’s potential bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping could aim to thaw relations further, continuing the momentum from their last meeting during the 2024 Brics summit in Kazan.

Counterterrorism in Focus: India-Pakistan-China Crosscurrents

Security and terrorism remain major sticking points. The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26, cast a long shadow on India-China-Pakistan trilateral dynamics. At the recent SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, India refused to endorse a joint declaration, citing China's and Pakistan’s attempt to side-line terrorism concerns and exclude any mention of the Pahalgam incident. Instead, the draft vaguely referred to unrest in Balochistan — widely interpreted as a jab at India.

Nonetheless, China appeared to recalibrate its position, with its Foreign Ministry later issuing a rare and unequivocal condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, calling for enhanced regional counterterrorism cooperation. This rhetorical shift may set the tone for this summit’s security agenda.

Global Undercurrents: Trump, Brics, and Dollar Hegemony

Adding to the complexity is U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Brics nations — particularly India and China — accusing them of undermining the dominance of the U.S. dollar through oil imports from Russia. Trump has slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods and threatened additional penalties, even as he loosens tariff constraints on China. Modi’s visit is thus not just regional diplomacy — it is a statement on India’s sovereignty in managing its trade and foreign relations amidst U.S. pressure.

Trade, Security, and Bilateral on the Agenda

At Tianjin, discussions among SCO members are expected to span cross-border terrorism, regional peace, and economic cooperation. Modi may also hold one-on-one meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, navigating energy ties and defence cooperation with Moscow, while delicately handling territorial disputes with Beijing.

The summit will offer India a platform to reinforce its stance against terrorism, advocate for multipolar trade policies, and push back against narratives that portray it as a Brics outlier or U.S. ally-in-name-only.

A Calculated Step Toward Regional Balance

Modi’s participation in the SCO summit is a careful diplomatic maneuver. It allows India to engage both adversaries and allies in one setting, advancing its interests without alienating any power bloc. With U.S.-China trade friction, Indo-Russian energy ties, and India-Pakistan tensions all converging, the Tianjin summit is not just another multilateral gathering — it is a geopolitical chessboard.

India's objective will be clear: promote regional stability, assert strategic autonomy, and recalibrate relations with China and Russia — all while standing firm on core concerns like terrorism.