China Courts India, Sort Of

Fears of isolation and increasing Western hostility seem to have softened China’s attitude toward India

Minister S. Jaishankar (R) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi greet the media before their meeting in New Delhi, India, on March 25, 2022. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's Twitter handle via AP

News Analysis

After years of belligerence, China has begun to court India. Trade between the two countries has surged—clearly, an important trend for Beijing, which has already started to feel insecurities about its trade relations with Japan and the West. Though trade between China and India seems set to continue along its recent steep trajectory, closer relations face many difficulties.