International RelationsImportant2025-07-14

EAM Jaishankar's Historic Visit to China for SCO

In News

What Happened

In July 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Beijing and Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting. During the visit, he held significant bilateral discussions with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This marked the first official trip to China by an Indian Foreign Minister since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

Why It Matters

This visit signals a potential diplomatic thaw and a deliberate effort to stabilize heavily strained bilateral ties following a five-year border standoff. It also demonstrates India's commitment to maintaining regional engagement through multilateral platforms like the SCO, while directly addressing border friction with China's leadership.

Background

History & Context

Relations between India and China deteriorated sharply following the Galwan Valley skirmish in June 2020, leading to a prolonged military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Prior to this 2025 visit, diplomatic engagement was largely restricted to Corps Commander-level talks and meetings on the sidelines of international summits in third countries. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) facilitated ongoing but slow disengagement efforts over the preceding five years.

What Changed

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BEFORE: High-level diplomatic visits directly to each other's capitals were suspended since 2020. NOW: The EAM's direct visit to Beijing establishes resumed high-level political engagement on Chinese soil.
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BEFORE: Interactions between Indian and Chinese foreign ministers were restricted to neutral third countries. NOW: Formal bilateral talks with Chinese leadership in Beijing and Tianjin indicate a cautious step toward normalizing standard diplomatic channels.
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BEFORE: Engagement was predominantly focused on military disengagement at specific LAC friction points. NOW: Discussions have broadened to include political stabilization and renewed Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) alongside the multilateral SCO agenda.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event directly applies concepts from Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (Alternative Centres of Power), which explores the rise of China and the complex evolution of India-China relations. Jaishankar's visit illustrates the duality of this relationship, where India strategically engages with China through alternative regional organizations like the SCO, while simultaneously managing acute bilateral territorial disputes.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding EAM S. Jaishankar's July 2025 visit to China? 1. It was the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. 2. The primary purpose of the visit was to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

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