Despite rivalry, China-India coexistence is not a pipe dream

OpinionDespite rivalry, China-India coexistence is not a pipe dream3-MIN READ3-MIN1ListenGaurav Kumar is a researcher at the Centre for Professional Military Education in the India" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="200101" data-entity-type="organization">United Service Institution of India, New Delhi.Published: 4:30pm, 4 Sep 2026Updated: 5:25pm, 4 Sep 2026When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the encounter was short and carefully choreographed while the message was warm. Modi had earlier said that stable and predictable ties between the two nations matter for a multipolar Asia and world.The larger moment will come on September 12 and 13, when Xi is expected to visit New Delhi for the first time in seven years. He is likely to lead a delegation of some 400 officials to the Brics summit.How should we read this? No honest account of the emerging thaw in Sino-Indian relations can leave out the leader who is not at the table. US President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods imposed last year have pushed Delhi and Beijing closer than any charm offensive could have, even though the tariff rates were reduced this year.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x