International RelationsImportant2025-09-01

PM Modi Attends SCO Summit in China

Q: Which of the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is/are correct? 1. India and Pakistan were admitted as full members of the SCO during the 2017 Astana summit. 2. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent organ of the SCO.

C. Both 1 and 2 — Both statements are correct. India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in 2017. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, is a permanent organ established to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

Why focus: SCO membership & structure—GS2 IR, sets up How-Many-Correct formats on Central Asian regional groupings.

In News

What Happened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This marked his first trip to the country in seven years, concluding a prolonged diplomatic pause. During the event, he held crucial bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on a united stance against cross-border terrorism.

Why It Matters

The visit is critical as it signals a potential thaw in India-China relations, which had been severely strained since the 2020 border clashes. It also reinforces India's commitment to strategic autonomy, balancing its Western partnerships with active engagement in Eurasian security and economic frameworks.

Background

History & Context

India and Pakistan officially joined the SCO as full members in 2017 at the Astana summit. Prior to this 2025 visit, PM Modi's last trip to China was in 2018 for the SCO summit in Qingdao and the Wuhan informal summit. Diplomatic ties deteriorated sharply following the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. However, India maintained its engagement with the SCO, particularly through its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), to counter regional security threats.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Prime ministerial visits from India to China were suspended after 2018, exacerbated by the 2020 border conflict. NOW: The 2025 Tianjin visit resumes high-level, direct diplomatic travel to China after a seven-year gap.
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BEFORE: Recent multilateral meetings often saw India and China avoiding formal bilateral talks at the highest level due to the border standoff. NOW: A dedicated bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping took place, indicating a push to manage bilateral differences.
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BEFORE: Regional terrorism discussions often lacked targeted consensus among major Eurasian powers. NOW: India explicitly pushed for a united, actionable framework against cross-border terrorism directly with Chinese and Russian leadership.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event applies the concepts found in Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 - Alternative Centres of Power. It demonstrates how organizations like the SCO function as non-Western multilateral forums, and how India navigates its strategic interests and disputes with China within a multipolar world order.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is/are correct? 1. India and Pakistan were admitted as full members of the SCO during the 2017 Astana summit. 2. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent organ of the SCO.

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