China and India are cautiously rebuilding ties after years of mistrust, with renewed border talks, restored flights, and revived trade, a shift accelerated by Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods. Instead of isolating Moscow’s partners, Washington’s selective approach appears to be driving the two Asian rivals closer together.

The China-India relationship deteriorated sharply after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, and the normalization process resumed following a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. While analysts remain cautious about the rapprochement between the world’s most populous nations, there are various reasons to argue that this rapprochement will endure.

The May conflict between India and Pakistan brought Chinese weaponry, particularly the J-10C fighter jet, into the global spotlight, as Pakistan used Chinese arms to shoot down Indian aircraft in a rare, real-world test of their battlefield effectiveness. This unexpected validation has boosted Chinese arms sales, strengthened China's defense ties with countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, and expanded Beijing’s geopolitical influence in South Asia at the expense of declining Western engagement.

India presents itself as a global leader and representative of the Global South, yet this contradicts its troubled relationships with immediate neighbors. Western powers overlook that because they view India as a counterbalance to China rather than scrutinizing its regional conduct and democratic backsliding.

‌Here are some suggestions for promoting peace, stability and development in the Asia Pacific region. For starters, to avoid bloc politics and confrontation or even a new cold war in the Asia Pacific, China, the U.S., Russia, Japan and India should actively develop new dialogues and exchanges and build on existing ones.

The Quad has evolved into a coalition with increasing military cooperation and shared concerns over China’s rising power, though India’s reluctance to fully engage in a military alliance limits the group's effectiveness in countering China's influence in the Asia-Pacific.

Former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s pragmatic diplomacy shaped Sino-Indian relations, balancing engagement with restraint despite domestic criticism. His legacy highlights the tension between economic cooperation and strategic caution in India's China policy.

Weeks before his return to the White House, US President-elect Donald Trump issued a pointed warning to the BRICS countries. “Go find another sucker,&rdqu

Improved bilateral relations will empower the organization, strengthen South-South cooperation and promote multipolarity in international relations. It will also enhance the status of BRICS as a platform to address sensitive issues through diplomacy.

The recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit highlights a crucial shift toward economic growth and rebuilding their relationship amid ongoing competition and territorial disputes. Ultimately, it’s imperative the two countries find ways to bolster trust, facilitate communication, and identify common ground moving forward.