Tensions Ease, but Trust Remains a Bridge Too Far for Modi and Xi The meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi marks another effort to repair ties strained by a 2020 border clash.
The encounter is part of a cautious thaw between rival neighbors, but beneath the surface lies deep mistrust. For decades, India and China have navigated their complex relationship with varying degrees of success.
Their economies have grown substantially since their 1962 war, but China's has far outpaced India's, resulting in a large trade surplus. This economic rivalry adds to longstanding territorial and strategic differences.