Two days ago, Indian Govt had distanced itself from the SCO statement condemning Israel’s attack on Iran. SCO is going through turbulent times— when two of its main members India and China refuse to look at each other eye to eye.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to travel to Qingdao, China, later this month to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting. This visit, if confirmed, would mark Singh’s first trip to China since the 2020 Galwan clash and the first ministerial-level engagement following the India-China border agreement in October 2024.

China, as the host of this year’s SCO summit, has invited Singh to attend the meeting. The October 2024 agreement facilitated the resumption of patrolling and troop disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, signaling a step toward de-escalation. Singh’s potential visit aligns with ongoing efforts to stabilize India-China relations.

Singh previously met with China’s Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, at the ADMM-Plus summit in Laos, marking their first interaction since the disengagement agreement. The Qingdao visit would build on these diplomatic engagements.

Amid these developments, India and China are exploring ways to normalize ties further. Discussions include resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, restoring air connectivity, sharing hydrological data, and easing visa processes to promote people-to-people exchanges.

India has also expressed support for China’s SCO presidency, a stance reaffirmed during recent talks in Delhi between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.