India-China Relations: Thaw Amid Persistent Structural Faultlines
India and China have seen a diplomatic thaw in 2025, marked by resumed flights, high-level visits, and confidence-building measures. However, deep-seated mistrust, unresolved border disputes, and strategic competition continue to challenge a true reset. Both sides maintain large troop deployments, and China's actions in Arunachal Pradesh and its alliance with Pakistan remain contentious.
The article discusses the recent normalization of India-China relations, highlighted by the resumption of direct flights, diplomatic exchanges, and high-level meetings such as Prime Minister Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit. These gestures signal a thaw after years of strained ties, driven partly by shifting global dynamics and India's recalibration due to tensions with the US. Despite these positive developments, the article emphasizes that structural issues persist, including unresolved border disputes, mutual mistrust, and China's territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh. Both countries continue to maintain significant troop deployments along the border, and China's actions, such as renaming places in disputed territories and expanding military infrastructure, fuel Indian concerns. The China-Pakistan axis and differing perceptions of multipolarity further complicate the relationship. While both sides seek strategic convergence, the normalization is fragile, and the underlying rivalry remains, with India cautious about China's intentions and actions in the region.
