President Xi’s confidential letter to President Murmu tested India’s willingness to recalibrate ties amid rising US-India-China tensions
Key Highlights:
- Xi Jinping sent a secret letter to India’s President Murmu, signaling China’s interest in improving bilateral ties
- The letter raised concerns over US-India agreements potentially harming China’s interests
- India-China agreed to accelerate talks to move beyond the 2020 border clash
- Renewed engagement includes resumption of direct flights, eased trade restrictions, and reopening of tourist visas
- The backdrop: US tariffs on China and India intensified Beijing’s outreach efforts
- PM Modi set to meet President Xi at the upcoming SCO summit, marking his first China visit in over seven years
Secret Letter as a Diplomatic Test
According to a Bloomberg report citing an unnamed Indian official, President Xi Jinping’s confidential letter to President Droupadi Murmu was a strategic move to gauge India’s stance on improving relations with China. Although addressed to President Murmu, the message quickly reached Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling Beijing’s intent to deepen diplomatic engagement.
Concerns Over US-India Agreements
The letter reportedly expressed Beijing’s apprehensions regarding new US-India deals that might negatively impact China’s interests. At the time, the US under President Donald Trump was intensifying trade pressure on China and fostering closer ties with India, including tariff impositions and strategic partnerships.
Moving Beyond the 2020 Border Clash
In response to growing geopolitical pressures, India and China agreed to expedite negotiations to resolve lingering boundary disputes stemming from the 2020 border clashes. This thaw in relations is reflected in several tangible developments:
- Resumption of direct passenger flights between the two countries expected within weeks
- Beijing easing restrictions on critical shipments like urea to India
- New Delhi reopening tourist visas for Chinese nationals after years of suspension
US Tariffs as an Unexpected Catalyst
Ironically, US trade policies aimed at penalizing Beijing—and later India—helped spur a warming of ties between the two Asian giants. Following tariff escalations in March, Chinese officials urged India to jointly oppose what they termed “hegemonism and power politics.”
Xi Jinping described cooperation as “the only right choice,” a metaphor echoed by state media calling for a “ballet dance” between the nations in resistance to US tariffs.
Upcoming SCO Summit and Future Prospects
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first trip to China in over seven years. This high-profile meeting with President Xi is expected to highlight a new phase of cooperation amid shifting global power dynamics.
Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, noted that Xi aims to use the summit to showcase a post-American-led international order, emphasizing the resilience of BRICS and other alliances against US pressure.
Conclusion
The confidential letter from President Xi Jinping appears to have been a pivotal diplomatic move that helped reset India-China relations. Against the backdrop of US-China tensions, this discreet outreach has led to significant progress in bilateral talks, trade, and people-to-people connections, setting the stage for further collaboration.
