India, China Take Small Step Forward Toward Border Settlement – The Diplomat (https://fonts.gstatic.com) (https://fonts.googleapis.com/) (../../../wp-content/plugins/compact-wp-audio-player/css/flashblock.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/compact-wp-audio-player/css/player.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/captcha/css/front_end_style.css) (../../../wp-content/plugins/captcha/css/desktop_style.css) (../../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Noto+Sans%253A400,400i,700,700i%257CNoto+Serif%253A400,400i,700,700i.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/style.css) (index.html) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/global.min.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/story.min.css) (../../../dpl-web/20260107/css/main.38b8c29c.css) (../../../wp-content/themes/td_theme_v3/build/20190918/css/print.min.css) All Sections Search (https://thediplomat.com/) Read The Diplomat , Know The Asia-Pacific (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia | (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features | All Regions (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia Topics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society Blogs (https://thediplomat.com/category/asean-beat/) ASEAN Beat (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-defense/) Asia Defense (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power (https://thediplomat.com/category/crossroads-asia/) Crossroads Asia (https://thediplomat.com/category/flashpoints/) Flashpoints (https://thediplomat.com/category/oceania/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/category/pacific-money/) Pacific Money (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-debate/) The Debate (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-koreas/) The Koreas (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-report/) Tokyo Report (https://thediplomat.com/category/trans-pacific-view/) Trans-Pacific View More (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/category/interviews/) Interviews (https://thediplomat.com/category/photo-essays/) Photo Essays (https://thediplomat.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts (https://thediplomat.com/category/videos/) Videos Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter The Diplomat (https://thediplomat.com/) Home Page (https://thediplomat.com/the-diplomat/) About Us (https://thediplomat.com/contact-us/) Contact Us (https://thediplomat.com/write-for-us/) Write for Us (https://thediplomat.com/about-us/advertise/) Advertise (https://thediplomat.com/syndication/) Syndicate (https://thediplomat.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscriptions The Pulse India, China Take Small Step Forward Toward Border Settlement (Share on LinkedIn) (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F&title=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement) (Share on Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) (Share on Bluesky) (https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) (Share on X) (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) Recent Features (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/how-great-power-rivalry-is-fracturing-the-pacific-islands-forum/) (How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum) (How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum) Diplomacy How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/sri-lankas-luxury-property-boom-is-outrunning-its-regulations/) (Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations) (Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations) Economy Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/latin-poison-kazakhstans-latinization-in-russian-media-discourse/) (‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse) (‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse) Society ‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/chinas-green-exports-to-europe-are-a-bright-spot-amid-trade-tensions/) (China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions) (China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions) Economy China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/the-tibet-nepal-flood-is-a-himalayan-climate-security-warning/) (The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning) (The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning) Environment The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/remembering-a-genocide-the-view-from-the-rohingya-camps/) (Remembering a Genocide: The View From the Rohingya Camps) (Remembering a Genocide: The View From the Rohingya Camps) Photo Essays Remembering a Genocide: The View From the Rohingya Camps (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/pakistans-kashmir-crackdown/) (Pakistan’s Kashmir Crackdown) (Pakistan’s Kashmir Crackdown) Politics Pakistan’s Kashmir Crackdown (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/chinas-strategic-plan-for-space-superiority/) (China’s Strategic Plan for Space Superiority) (China’s Strategic Plan for Space Superiority) Security China’s Strategic Plan for Space Superiority (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/what-is-life-really-like-under-the-taliban-we-asked-afghan-women/) (What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women.) (What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women.) Videos What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/kinmen-the-sleepy-fishing-island-that-could-be-east-asias-biggest-flashpoint/) (Kinmen: The Sleepy Fishing Island That Could Be East Asia’s Biggest Flashpoint) (Kinmen: The Sleepy Fishing Island That Could Be East Asia’s Biggest Flashpoint) Society Kinmen: The Sleepy Fishing Island That Could Be East Asia’s Biggest Flashpoint (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/china-isnt-winning-the-digital-order-yet/) (China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet) (China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet) Diplomacy China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/kazakh-state-tightens-grip-over-critical-minerals-miner-erg/) (Kazakh State Tightens Grip Over Critical Minerals Miner ERG) (Kazakh State Tightens Grip Over Critical Minerals Miner ERG) Economy Kazakh State Tightens Grip Over Critical Minerals Miner ERG (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse | (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy | (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia India, China Take Small Step Forward Toward Border Settlement At the recent special representatives talks in Beijing, the two sides agreed to work on identifying less contentious sections of their disputed border. (Elizabeth Roche) (Elizabeth Roche) By (https://thediplomat.com/authors/elizabeth-roche/) Elizabeth Roche September 01, 2026 (Share on LinkedIn) (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F&title=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement) (Share on Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) (Share on Bluesky) (https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) (Share on X) (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=India%2C+China+Take+Small+Step+Forward+Toward+Border+Settlement&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2026%2F09%2Findia-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement%2F) (India, China Take Small Step Forward Toward Border Settlement) (India, China Take Small Step Forward Toward Border Settlement) Indian and Chinese delegations at the 25th Meeting of Special Representatives on the India-China Boundary Question held in Beijing, China, on Aug. 25, 2026. Credit: (https://x.com/EOIBeijing/status/2092268017426321879/photo/2) X/India in Beijing (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading Top officials of India and China have (https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202608/t20260826_12011002.html) agreed to work on identifying less contentious sections of their contested border for delimitation as part of a broader process toward resolving their longstanding boundary dispute. A special group of negotiators will identify these less disputed parts of the border and delimit them, a (https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases?dtl/41700/Eight_Points_of_Outcomes_and_Consensus_for_the_25th_round_of_Talks_between_Special_Representatives_of_India_and_China_on_the_Boundary_Question) joint statement released on August 26 said. The statement came a day after India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval (https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202608/t20260826_12010652.html) met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing for talks. Doval and Wang are the designated special representatives of their two countries for the boundary talks mechanism, which was established in 2003 to address the border dispute. At the talks in Beijing, India and China also agreed to two new military hotlines in the eastern and middle sections of their border and two new meeting points for military commander-level interactions to immediately deal with any tensions that arise along their 3,500 km-long border. Officials of the two countries will meet next month to discuss issues related to trans-border rivers as they look to take their relationship forward after ties sank to a (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-affairs-to-decide-india-china-ties-mea-on-arunachal-standoff-reports-101786496470491.html) six-decade low during the June 2020 (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-affairs-to-decide-india-china-ties-mea-on-arunachal-standoff-reports-101786496470491.html) Galwan clash . “The two sides agreed that any situation on the ground would be addressed promptly through existing diplomatic and military channels,” the statement, which listed eight outcomes, said. The emphasis was on stabilizing the border and ensuring that any tensions that surface are defused before they impact the larger relationship. “The two sides discussed ways to improve understanding of LAC [Line of Actual Control, the de facto border] in appropriate areas, for better border management,” it said. This is a key outcome given that differing perceptions of where the border lies have been the principal source of friction between the countries. There was agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility along the border and on creating “an atmosphere for healthy and steady development of bilateral relations,” the joint statement said. India has (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-peace-prerequisite-for-normal-ties-jaishankar-tells-chinese-counterpart-101784704264452.html) stated multiple times that peace on the border was a pre-requisite for progress in other areas of the China-India bilateral relationship, such as economic engagement. The two countries said they were committed to finding a solution to their vexed boundary problem based on a (https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents?dtl/6534/Agreement+between+the+Government+of+the+Republic+of+India+and+the+Government+of+the+Peoples+Republic+of+China+on+the+Political+Parameters+and+Guiding+Principles+for+the+Settlement+of+the+IndiaChina+Boundary+Question) 2005 pact that says the final agreement would be a “package settlement” that would cover the entire border – the western, middle, and eastern sections. The 2005 pact also provides for both countries to “safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas.” India has been particularly keen that the solution to border tensions with China be a comprehensive one, covering the entire stretch of the border rather than selected areas seen as easier to resolve. Moreover, some of these areas with easier resolution prospects are also ones where India holds a military advantage vis-a-vis China. The joint statement was issued a day after the two countries put out separate readouts of their talks, which was taken as a sign that the two countries were far apart on key issues. The release of the joint statement has set at rest doubts that differences had outweighed points of agreement. The China-India talks come against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable world order where the United States is seen as an inward-looking and unreliable partner. Previously, India had perceived the U.S. as a (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/indias-competitive-turn-toward-china/) hedge against China’s growing assertiveness in Asia. India (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) views China as its principal long-term adversary. However, New Delhi has been at the receiving end of Donald Trump’s tariffs and other punitive measures over the past year. Consequently, India is adopting an (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) “America Plus” strategy that includes outreach to countries and groups like Japan, the European Union, Russia and China, said security affairs analyst C. Raja Mohan, in an (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) article in the Foreign Affairs magazine. C. Uday Bhaskar, a retired commodore of the Indian Navy and currently director at the Society for Policy Studies think tank in New Delhi, noted that a joint statement after talks between special representatives of India and China on border issues was “rare.” “This time, an eight-point text was actually agreed within 18 hours, which signals political intent at the highest level to lock in stability ahead of a packed fortnight,” he said in a recent (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/wang-yi-doval-24-hour-delay-explains-india-china-dynamic-brics-10852194/) opinion piec (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/in-outrage-over-kriti-sanons-rakhi-outfit-kangana-ranaut-10851653/?ref=infinite) e . The delay in issuing the eight-point document was symptomatic of what defines China-India relations currently — “deeply embedded wariness,” he added. The Doval-Wang talks set the stage for the upcoming meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at two summits over the coming fortnight: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit at Bishkek on August 31-September 1 and the India-chaired meeting of the BRICS countries in New Delhi on September 12-13. Xi is (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-likely-visit-india-with-big-delegation-first-time-seven-years-2026-08-24/) expected to travel to India for the BRICS meet, although Beijing has not announced the visit yet. It will be his first visit to India since 2019. The move toward a rapprochement amid simmering tensions along the LAC triggered by the Galwan clashes (https://www.mea.gov.in/lok-sabha?dtl/39970/QUESTION+NO+3278+DISENGAGEMENT+ALONG+LAC+BETWEEN+INDOCHINA) began in 2024 with India and China announcing the pull back of troops from close proximity along border points in Eastern Ladakh, high up in the Himalayas. Indian and Chinese troops are now disengaged, i.e. no longer in close proximity to each other, but they are yet to move back to peacetime positions. This means that neither side has de-escalated deployment as yet. Modi and Xi have met on two occasions since the disengagement of troops – in (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/india-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement/News%20reports%20suggest%20that%20India%20and%20China%20are%20exploring%20a%20new%20framework%20to%20facilitate%20business-to-business%20exchanges%20and%20Chinese%20investments,%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20accelerated%20capital%20flow,%20as%20the%20neighbours%20cautiously%20move%20to%20rekindle%20commercial%20ties%20amid%20a%20broader%20thawing%20of%20diplomatic%20relations,%20said%20people%20familiar%20with%20the%20developments.) Kazan in Russia on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit and on the margins of the China-hosted SCO summit in Tianjin last year. Meanwhile, the two sides have acted to resume connectivity; travel woes (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-frees-up-visas-chinese-professionals-key-step-boost-ties-2025-12-12/) have eased and airlines have (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-china-restart-direct-flights-by-late-october-says-foreign-ministry-2025-10-02/) resumed flights. (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-china-may-build-framework-for-investments-xi-jinping-visit-brics-summit/articleshow/133550479.cms?from=mdr) News reports suggest that India and China are exploring new ways to facilitate business-to-business exchanges with India aiming to attract Chinese investments. Some of these announcements could be made when Xi lands in New Delhi for the BRICS summit. Earlier this year, India (https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/fdi-push-4896-cr-across-29-projects-india-allows-10-chinese-stake/article71373555.ece) amended the rules allowing easier investment flows from China after tightening rules in 2020. India sees increased investments from China as a way to cut down its ballooning (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-china-trade-rises-to-usd-91-72-bn-in-first-6-month-trade-deficit-widens-to-usd-67-1-bn/articleshow/132391346.cms?from=mdr) trade deficit with Beijing. With a goal to become a developed economy by 2047, India is looking for investments, technology, and ways to boost its manufacturing. With Trump making the U.S. an unreliable partner and India looking at other partners to fill the void, China next door has emerged a real possibility. “We are not in the 1991 world,” where there was only one superpower — the United States, Atul Aneja, a former correspondent of The Hindu in Beijing, told The Diplomat. “Today’s world is a multipolar world. There is China, Russia, and others. Power is fragmented and that is reflected in the change of character of global power system. In this scenario, India needs to engage with China,” he said. India’s outreach to China comes against the backdrop of Beijing’s mounting (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352863/china-confirms-it-helped-pakistans-air-force-during-last-years-war-india) military and (https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-and-pakistan-foreign-ministers-agree-to-launch-new-economic-corridor-projects/article69960647.ece) economic support to India’s archrival, Pakistan, on many occasions. There is also concern in New Delhi over China’s propensity to (https://www.orfonline.org/research/supply-strategy-and-statecraft-india-s-china-policy-in-an-era-of-economic-rebalancing) weaponize supply chains, i.e., to stop export of key products that India’s economy is dependent on. Beijing’s sudden halt of (https://www.orfonline.org/research/supply-strategy-and-statecraft-india-s-china-policy-in-an-era-of-economic-rebalancing) fertilizer exports to India is a case in point. While China is seeking increased access to India’s market for its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, (https://www.livemint.com/industry/china-india-auto-industry-battery-technology-rare-earth-magnet-restrictions/amp-11787887591661.html) news reports suggest that China is reluctant to transfer EV battery technology to Indian businesses. Indian companies are also (https://www.livemint.com/industry/china-india-auto-industry-battery-technology-rare-earth-magnet-restrictions/amp-11787887591661.html) reportedly struggling to obtain rare earth magnets from China, with restrictions first noticed in April 2025. All this suggests India’s rapprochement with China isn’t likely to be smooth or straightforward. While it is in India’s national interests to seek out Chinese investments, Beijing would definitely seek a bigger footprint for its businesses in India. But it seems doubtful that Beijing would greenlight technology transfers or move to build up India, given that Delhi is a potential challenger to China’s Asian and global ambitions in the future. Already have an account? Log in . You have reached the limit of 2 free articles this month. Get to the bottom of the story (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) Subscribe today and join thousands of diplomats, analysts, policy professionals and business readers who rely on The Diplomat for expert Asia-Pacific coverage. Get unlimited access to in-depth analysis you won't find anywhere else, from South China Sea tensions to ASEAN diplomacy to India-Pakistan relations. More than 5,000 articles a year. Unlimited articles and expert analysis Weekly newsletter with exclusive insights 16-year archive of diplomatic coverage Ad-free reading on all devices Support independent journalism (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) Subscribe Now (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions) View Subscription Options Already have an account? Log in . Top officials of India and China have (https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202608/t20260826_12011002.html) agreed to work on identifying less contentious sections of their contested border for delimitation as part of a broader process toward resolving their longstanding boundary dispute. A special group of negotiators will identify these less disputed parts of the border and delimit them, a (https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases?dtl/41700/Eight_Points_of_Outcomes_and_Consensus_for_the_25th_round_of_Talks_between_Special_Representatives_of_India_and_China_on_the_Boundary_Question) joint statement released on August 26 said. The statement came a day after India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval (https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202608/t20260826_12010652.html) met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing for talks. Doval and Wang are the designated special representatives of their two countries for the boundary talks mechanism, which was established in 2003 to address the border dispute. At the talks in Beijing, India and China also agreed to two new military hotlines in the eastern and middle sections of their border and two new meeting points for military commander-level interactions to immediately deal with any tensions that arise along their 3,500 km-long border. Officials of the two countries will meet next month to discuss issues related to trans-border rivers as they look to take their relationship forward after ties sank to a (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-affairs-to-decide-india-china-ties-mea-on-arunachal-standoff-reports-101786496470491.html) six-decade low during the June 2020 (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-affairs-to-decide-india-china-ties-mea-on-arunachal-standoff-reports-101786496470491.html) Galwan clash . “The two sides agreed that any situation on the ground would be addressed promptly through existing diplomatic and military channels,” the statement, which listed eight outcomes, said. The emphasis was on stabilizing the border and ensuring that any tensions that surface are defused before they impact the larger relationship. “The two sides discussed ways to improve understanding of LAC [Line of Actual Control, the de facto border] in appropriate areas, for better border management,” it said. This is a key outcome given that differing perceptions of where the border lies have been the principal source of friction between the countries. There was agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility along the border and on creating “an atmosphere for healthy and steady development of bilateral relations,” the joint statement said. India has (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/border-peace-prerequisite-for-normal-ties-jaishankar-tells-chinese-counterpart-101784704264452.html) stated multiple times that peace on the border was a pre-requisite for progress in other areas of the China-India bilateral relationship, such as economic engagement. The two countries said they were committed to finding a solution to their vexed boundary problem based on a (https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents?dtl/6534/Agreement+between+the+Government+of+the+Republic+of+India+and+the+Government+of+the+Peoples+Republic+of+China+on+the+Political+Parameters+and+Guiding+Principles+for+the+Settlement+of+the+IndiaChina+Boundary+Question) 2005 pact that says the final agreement would be a “package settlement” that would cover the entire border – the western, middle, and eastern sections. The 2005 pact also provides for both countries to “safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas.” India has been particularly keen that the solution to border tensions with China be a comprehensive one, covering the entire stretch of the border rather than selected areas seen as easier to resolve. Moreover, some of these areas with easier resolution prospects are also ones where India holds a military advantage vis-a-vis China. The joint statement was issued a day after the two countries put out separate readouts of their talks, which was taken as a sign that the two countries were far apart on key issues. The release of the joint statement has set at rest doubts that differences had outweighed points of agreement. The China-India talks come against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable world order where the United States is seen as an inward-looking and unreliable partner. Previously, India had perceived the U.S. as a (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/indias-competitive-turn-toward-china/) hedge against China’s growing assertiveness in Asia. India (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) views China as its principal long-term adversary. However, New Delhi has been at the receiving end of Donald Trump’s tariffs and other punitive measures over the past year. Consequently, India is adopting an (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) “America Plus” strategy that includes outreach to countries and groups like Japan, the European Union, Russia and China, said security affairs analyst C. Raja Mohan, in an (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/india-sticking-america-now) article in the Foreign Affairs magazine. C. Uday Bhaskar, a retired commodore of the Indian Navy and currently director at the Society for Policy Studies think tank in New Delhi, noted that a joint statement after talks between special representatives of India and China on border issues was “rare.” “This time, an eight-point text was actually agreed within 18 hours, which signals political intent at the highest level to lock in stability ahead of a packed fortnight,” he said in a recent (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/wang-yi-doval-24-hour-delay-explains-india-china-dynamic-brics-10852194/) opinion piec (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/in-outrage-over-kriti-sanons-rakhi-outfit-kangana-ranaut-10851653/?ref=infinite) e . The delay in issuing the eight-point document was symptomatic of what defines China-India relations currently — “deeply embedded wariness,” he added. The Doval-Wang talks set the stage for the upcoming meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at two summits over the coming fortnight: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit at Bishkek on August 31-September 1 and the India-chaired meeting of the BRICS countries in New Delhi on September 12-13. Xi is (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-likely-visit-india-with-big-delegation-first-time-seven-years-2026-08-24/) expected to travel to India for the BRICS meet, although Beijing has not announced the visit yet. It will be his first visit to India since 2019. The move toward a rapprochement amid simmering tensions along the LAC triggered by the Galwan clashes (https://www.mea.gov.in/lok-sabha?dtl/39970/QUESTION+NO+3278+DISENGAGEMENT+ALONG+LAC+BETWEEN+INDOCHINA) began in 2024 with India and China announcing the pull back of troops from close proximity along border points in Eastern Ladakh, high up in the Himalayas. Indian and Chinese troops are now disengaged, i.e. no longer in close proximity to each other, but they are yet to move back to peacetime positions. This means that neither side has de-escalated deployment as yet. Modi and Xi have met on two occasions since the disengagement of troops – in (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/india-china-take-small-step-forward-toward-border-settlement/News%20reports%20suggest%20that%20India%20and%20China%20are%20exploring%20a%20new%20framework%20to%20facilitate%20business-to-business%20exchanges%20and%20Chinese%20investments,%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20accelerated%20capital%20flow,%20as%20the%20neighbours%20cautiously%20move%20to%20rekindle%20commercial%20ties%20amid%20a%20broader%20thawing%20of%20diplomatic%20relations,%20said%20people%20familiar%20with%20the%20developments.) Kazan in Russia on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit and on the margins of the China-hosted SCO summit in Tianjin last year. Meanwhile, the two sides have acted to resume connectivity; travel woes (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-frees-up-visas-chinese-professionals-key-step-boost-ties-2025-12-12/) have eased and airlines have (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-china-restart-direct-flights-by-late-october-says-foreign-ministry-2025-10-02/) resumed flights. (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-china-may-build-framework-for-investments-xi-jinping-visit-brics-summit/articleshow/133550479.cms?from=mdr) News reports suggest that India and China are exploring new ways to facilitate business-to-business exchanges with India aiming to attract Chinese investments. Some of these announcements could be made when Xi lands in New Delhi for the BRICS summit. Earlier this year, India (https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/fdi-push-4896-cr-across-29-projects-india-allows-10-chinese-stake/article71373555.ece) amended the rules allowing easier investment flows from China after tightening rules in 2020. India sees increased investments from China as a way to cut down its ballooning (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-china-trade-rises-to-usd-91-72-bn-in-first-6-month-trade-deficit-widens-to-usd-67-1-bn/articleshow/132391346.cms?from=mdr) trade deficit with Beijing. With a goal to become a developed economy by 2047, India is looking for investments, technology, and ways to boost its manufacturing. With Trump making the U.S. an unreliable partner and India looking at other partners to fill the void, China next door has emerged a real possibility. “We are not in the 1991 world,” where there was only one superpower — the United States, Atul Aneja, a former correspondent of The Hindu in Beijing, told The Diplomat. “Today’s world is a multipolar world. There is China, Russia, and others. Power is fragmented and that is reflected in the change of character of global power system. In this scenario, India needs to engage with China,” he said. India’s outreach to China comes against the backdrop of Beijing’s mounting (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352863/china-confirms-it-helped-pakistans-air-force-during-last-years-war-india) military and (https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-and-pakistan-foreign-ministers-agree-to-launch-new-economic-corridor-projects/article69960647.ece) economic support to India’s archrival, Pakistan, on many occasions. There is also concern in New Delhi over China’s propensity to (https://www.orfonline.org/research/supply-strategy-and-statecraft-india-s-china-policy-in-an-era-of-economic-rebalancing) weaponize supply chains, i.e., to stop export of key products that India’s economy is dependent on. Beijing’s sudden halt of (https://www.orfonline.org/research/supply-strategy-and-statecraft-india-s-china-policy-in-an-era-of-economic-rebalancing) fertilizer exports to India is a case in point. While China is seeking increased access to India’s market for its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, (https://www.livemint.com/industry/china-india-auto-industry-battery-technology-rare-earth-magnet-restrictions/amp-11787887591661.html) news reports suggest that China is reluctant to transfer EV battery technology to Indian businesses. Indian companies are also (https://www.livemint.com/industry/china-india-auto-industry-battery-technology-rare-earth-magnet-restrictions/amp-11787887591661.html) reportedly struggling to obtain rare earth magnets from China, with restrictions first noticed in April 2025. All this suggests India’s rapprochement with China isn’t likely to be smooth or straightforward. While it is in India’s national interests to seek out Chinese investments, Beijing would definitely seek a bigger footprint for its businesses in India. But it seems doubtful that Beijing would greenlight technology transfers or move to build up India, given that Delhi is a potential challenger to China’s Asian and global ambitions in the future. Authors (Elizabeth Roche) (Elizabeth Roche) Contributing Author Elizabeth Roche Elizabeth Roche is Associate Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, Haryana, India. (https://thediplomat.com/authors/elizabeth-roche/) View Profile Tags (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/countries/china/) China (https://thediplomat.com/countries/india/) India (https://thediplomat.com/tag/ajit-doval-wang-yi/) Ajit Doval-Wang Yi (https://thediplomat.com/tag/india-china-border-dispute/) India-China Border Dispute (https://thediplomat.com/tag/india-china-talks/) India-China talks (https://thediplomat.com/tag/special-representatives/) Special Representatives (https://thediplomat.com/tag/special-representatives-meeting-on-the-india-china-boundary-question/) Special Representatives Meeting on the India-China Boundary Question (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscribe for ads-free reading Advertisement (https://thediplomat.com/category/blogs/) Latest Stories (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/as-the-world-nomad-games-come-home-japarov-expands-kyrgyzstans-national-story/) (As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story) (As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story) As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/to-secure-the-natuna-sea-indonesia-needs-more-than-new-ships/) (To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships) (To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships) To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/japan-south-korea-and-the-new-logic-of-nuclear-energy-security-in-northeast-asia/) (Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia) (Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia) Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/china-wants-to-push-taiwan-out-of-the-pacific/) (China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific) (China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific) China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific Advertisement Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Get the Newsletter Advertisement Related (https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/would-a-sino-indian-detente-work/) (Would a Sino-Indian Détente Work?) (Would a Sino-Indian Détente Work?) Would a Sino-Indian Détente Work? By Akhilesh Pillalamarri A Sino-Indian rapprochement would ultimately disadvantage India because China would emerge as the power more likely to shape the partnership. (https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/india-seeks-to-stabilize-newly-thawed-relations-with-china/) (India Seeks to Stabilize Newly Thawed Relations With China) (India Seeks to Stabilize Newly Thawed Relations With China) India Seeks to Stabilize Newly Thawed Relations With China By Elizabeth Roche India’s foreign minister met several top Chinese leaders during his first visit to China since bilateral relations unraveled over violent clashes at Galwan. (https://thediplomat.com/2024/10/modi-xi-meeting-in-russia-tactical-thaw-or-prolonged-peace/) (Modi-Xi Meeting in Russia: Tactical Thaw or Prolonged Peace?) (Modi-Xi Meeting in Russia: Tactical Thaw or Prolonged Peace?) Modi-Xi Meeting in Russia: Tactical Thaw or Prolonged Peace? By Rushali Saha The handshake on the sidelines of the BRICS summit happened days after India announced that the two countries had reached a border patrolling agreement (https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/revisiting-indias-china-challenge/) (Revisiting India’s China Challenge) (Revisiting India’s China Challenge) Revisiting India’s China Challenge By Araudra Singh China views India’s growing security cooperation with concern, especially since the revival of the Quad in 2017 and in the context of border tensions since 2020. Most Read (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/vietnam-demands-immediate-cessation-to-construction-activities-in-paracel-islands/) (Vietnam Demands ‘Immediate Cessation’ to Construction Activities in Paracel Islands) (Vietnam Demands ‘Immediate Cessation’ to Construction Activities in Paracel Islands) Vietnam Demands ‘Immediate Cessation’ to Construction Activities in Paracel Islands By Sebastian Strangio The request follows reports of extensive Chinese construction activities on Antelope Reef and a nearby islet. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/the-tibet-nepal-flood-is-a-himalayan-climate-security-warning/) (The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning) (The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning) The Tibet-Nepal Flood Is a Himalayan Climate Security Warning By Saroj Kumar Aryal and Jagannath Panda The catastrophic flood this week proves that Tibet needs to be at the center of international climate security discussions. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/what-is-life-really-like-under-the-taliban-we-asked-afghan-women/) (What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women.) (What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women.) What Is Life Really Like Under the Taliban? We Asked Afghan Women. Online influencers are framing Afghanistan as a a beautiful, welcoming “hidden gem.” That may be true for tourists – but what about the women who live there? (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/china-isnt-winning-the-digital-order-yet/) (China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet) (China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet) China Isn’t Winning the Digital Order – Yet By Ilaria Carrozza In Southeast Asia, Beijing is building the digital infrastructure, but not (yet) writing the rules. (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/how-great-power-rivalry-is-fracturing-the-pacific-islands-forum/) (How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum) (How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum) How Great Power Rivalry Is Fracturing the Pacific Islands Forum By Jozef Huljak Absences from this year's Leaders' Meeting are raising questions about the group's solidarity amid growing China-U.S. competition. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/sri-lankas-luxury-property-boom-is-outrunning-its-regulations/) (Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations) (Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations) Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Outrunning Its Regulations By Umesh Moramudali As Colombo's luxury towers rise, the laws and institutions meant to oversee them lag far behind. Financial history shows that rarely ends well. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/latin-poison-kazakhstans-latinization-in-russian-media-discourse/) (‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse) (‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse) ‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse By Aziz Berdiqulov In criticizing Kazakhstan's Latinization effort, Russian media is not defending the Russian language or the Cyrillic alphabet, but the symbolic, ideological, and geopolitical hierarchy of the Russian world. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/chinas-green-exports-to-europe-are-a-bright-spot-amid-trade-tensions/) (China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions) (China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions) China’s Green Exports to Europe Are a Bright Spot Amid Trade Tensions By Neil Thompson Climate change and the Iran war are driving many European consumers to Chinese-made electric vehicles despite EU tariffs. (https://thediplomat.com/category/blogs/) Latest Stories (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/as-the-world-nomad-games-come-home-japarov-expands-kyrgyzstans-national-story/) (As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story) (As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story) As the World Nomad Games Come Home, Japarov Expands Kyrgyzstan’s National Story By Oliver Fisk The opening of the games coincided with Kyrgyzstan's 35th independence anniversary and a major Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/to-secure-the-natuna-sea-indonesia-needs-more-than-new-ships/) (To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships) (To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships) To Secure the Natuna Sea, Indonesia Needs More Than New Ships By Aurelia Leowinata Maritime security is one of Indonesia’s most demanding defense domains. And at its current stage, Indonesia needs significant help. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/japan-south-korea-and-the-new-logic-of-nuclear-energy-security-in-northeast-asia/) (Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia) (Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia) Japan, South Korea, and the New Logic of Nuclear Energy Security in Northeast Asia By Piergiorgio Pescali The two neighbors are reshaping the nuclear politics of Northeast Asia – and doing so increasingly in concert with Washington. (https://thediplomat.com/2026/09/china-wants-to-push-taiwan-out-of-the-pacific/) (China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific) (China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific) China Wants to Push Taiwan out of the Pacific By Jonah Bock China’s pressure campaign against Taiwan doesn’t end when a country switches recognition to Beijing. Regions (https://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia/) Central Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/east-asia/) East Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/oceania-region/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/regions/south-asia/) South Asia (https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/) Southeast Asia Topics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/diplomacy/) Diplomacy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/economy/) Economy (https://thediplomat.com/topics/environment/) Environment (https://thediplomat.com/topics/opinion/) Opinion (https://thediplomat.com/topics/politics/) Politics (https://thediplomat.com/topics/security/) Security (https://thediplomat.com/topics/society/) Society Blogs (https://thediplomat.com/category/asean-beat/) ASEAN Beat (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-defense/) Asia Defense (https://thediplomat.com/category/china-power/) China Power (https://thediplomat.com/category/crossroads-asia/) Crossroads Asia (https://thediplomat.com/category/flashpoints/) Flashpoints (https://thediplomat.com/category/oceania/) Oceania (https://thediplomat.com/category/pacific-money/) Pacific Money (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-debate/) The Debate (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-koreas/) The Koreas (https://thediplomat.com/category/the-pulse/) The Pulse (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-report/) Tokyo Report (https://thediplomat.com/category/trans-pacific-view/) Trans-Pacific View More (https://thediplomat.com/category/features/) Features (https://thediplomat.com/category/interviews/) Interviews (https://thediplomat.com/category/photo-essays/) Photo Essays (https://thediplomat.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts (https://thediplomat.com/category/videos/) Videos Archives (https://magazine.thediplomat.com) Magazine (https://thediplomat.com/category/a-new-japan/) A New Japan (https://thediplomat.com/category/by-other-means/) By Other Means (https://thediplomat.com/category/apac-insider/) APAC Insider (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-life/) Asia Life (https://thediplomat.com/category/asia-scope/) Asia Scope (https://thediplomat.com/category/whats-next-china/) China, What's Next? (https://thediplomat.com/category/indian-decade/) Indian Decade (https://thediplomat.com/category/james-holmes/) James Holmes (https://thediplomat.com/category/new-emissary/) New Emissary (https://thediplomat.com/category/new-leaders-forum/) New Leaders Forum (https://thediplomat.com/category/sport-culture/) Sport & Culture (https://thediplomat.com/category/tech-biz/) Tech Biz (https://thediplomat.com/category/tokyo-notes/) Tokyo Notes (https://thediplomat.com/category/zachary-keck/) Zachary Keck The Diplomat (https://thediplomat.com/the-diplomat/) About Us (https://thediplomat.com/contact-us/) Contact Us (https://thediplomat.com/write-for-us/) Write for Us (https://thediplomat.com/about-us/advertise/) Advertise (https://thediplomat.com/syndication/) Syndicate (https://thediplomat.com/terms-of-use/) Terms of Use (https://thediplomat.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Newsletters (https://thediplomat.com/subscriptions/) Subscriptions Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) Diplomat Brief Weekly Newsletter (https://thediplomat.com/feed/) (https://thediplomat.com/newsletter/) (Newsletter) (https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMIaoowwwhqCyBA) (Google News) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/thediplomat) (LinkedIn) (https://www.facebook.com/diplomatmagazine) (Facebook) (https://bsky.app/profile/thediplomat.com) (Bluesky) (https://x.com/Diplomat_APAC) (X) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmksR2jAphI96PPCwvPO02g) (YouTube) © 2026 Diplomat Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.