Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for a landmark visit to China at the end of August — his first in more than seven years — at a time of increasing geopolitical friction between India and the United States. The trip, which includes participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, set to begin on August 31, marks a significant step in India’s ongoing strategic balancing act between East and West.
As reported by G.Business, citing Reuters, Modi’s expected presence at the summit in Tianjin highlights New Delhi’s continued engagement in multilateral dialogue with regional powers — even as tensions with Washington persist over trade tariffs, defense alignment, and India's energy ties with Russia.
The visit comes as India–U.S. relations face their most severe crisis in years, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose the highest import tariffs in Asia on Indian goods. Washington is also threatening further sanctions over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Modi Travels to Tianjin – First Visit to China Since 2018
Modi's visit to the Chinese city of Tianjin for the SCO Summit will be his first trip to China since 2018. Bilateral relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly after a military clash on the shared Himalayan border in 2020.
According to Reuters, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia in October 2024, which helped improve diplomatic dialogue. The two neighboring Asian countries are now gradually easing tensions that have hindered business ties and travel between India and China in recent years.
Trump Imposes New Tariffs on India
Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump had sharply criticized India for maintaining trade relations with Russia and for what he called “the harshest and most unpleasant non-tariff trade barriers of any country.”
Trump also pointed out that India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, which, according to him, continues even as Russia refuses to halt its war in Ukraine. As a result, Trump threatened to impose significant new tariffs on India.
On August 6, the U.S. President officially signed a decree introducing an additional 25% import tariff on Indian goods. According to Reuters, Trump is also considering extending the 25% tariffs to other countries that continue to buy Russian oil.
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Photo: Facebook / Narendra Modi