The most recent visit by an Indian defence minister to China occurred in 2013, when the then Minister A.K. Antony journeyed to Beijing. Since that time, the relationship between India and China has experienced numerous disruptions.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the Chinese port city of Qingdao on Wednesday (June 25) to participate in the Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This visit is notable and significant, occurring amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations due to a prolonged border standoff.
This marks the first visit by a senior Indian minister to China since the tragic clash in Galwan Valley in 2020, and it is also the first occasion in 12 years that an Indian defence minister has set foot in the country.
First Indian defence minister visit to China in 12 years
The previous visit by an Indian defence minister to China took place in 2013, when then Minister A.K. Antony journeyed to Beijing. Since that time, the relationship between India and China has faced numerous disruptions, with the most significant breakdown occurring in 2020 following the military confrontation in Galwan Valley. This clash resulted in casualties on both sides and caused a halt in regular bilateral communications. Tensions have remained high along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where both nations have stationed thousands of troops since May 2020.
Rajnath Singh’s visit occurs at a moment when both parties have made limited advancements in de-escalation discussions but have not yet achieved complete disengagement at several points of friction.
First high-level Indian visit since Modi-Xi meeting in 2024
Singh’s journey is also the first ministerial-level visit from India to China since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana, Kazakhstan, during the 2024 SCO Summit. That brief encounter, while largely symbolic, was seen as an effort to re-establish diplomatic communication between the two nations.
Since that meeting, no other Indian cabinet-level official has traveled to China, making Singh’s presence in Qingdao a significant diplomatic gesture in anticipation of potential future interactions.
Singh to present India’s anti-terrorism and security strategy
During the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for June 25–26, Singh is anticipated to reaffirm India’s commitment to the foundational principles of the SCO, which include mutual respect for sovereignty and cooperation in regional security. He will also articulate India’s vision for peace and advocate for collective and sustained actions to combat terrorism and extremism, as stated by Indian officials.
“I am eager to share India’s vision for global peace and security and to advocate for collaborative and consistent efforts to eradicate terrorism,” Singh expressed in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, prior to the summit.
Bilateral discussions with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov are expected to occur on the sidelines of the SCO meeting. These discussions are likely to cover topics such as regional security, counterterrorism collaboration, and the status of border disengagement between India and China.
Who is representing India and China?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is at the helm of India’s delegation to the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting. He is joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian armed forces. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is also set to engage in separate SCO security discussions in China that concentrate on regional counterterrorism initiatives.
On the Chinese side, Admiral Dong Jun, who is the Defence Minister of China, is hosting the meeting and will preside over the summit-level discussions. He is also scheduled to conduct bilateral meetings with Singh and other visiting officials.
Meetings since 2024
Although Singh’s visit marks the first cabinet-level trip from India to China in several years, both nations have maintained lower-level dialogues throughout 2024 and 2025. Corps Commander-level discussions have been held intermittently to address tensions along the LAC. However, these talks have only achieved partial success, with numerous military standoff points remaining unresolved.
India has consistently advocated for a complete disengagement and the restoration of the pre-2020 status quo in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, China has sought a more comprehensive reset of relations, even as both sides continue to develop infrastructure along the border.
Singh’s trip to Qingdao may potentially facilitate a more formal high-level dialogue between India and China; however, expectations remain tempered due to ongoing mistrust.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and Central Asian nations, has emerged as an increasingly significant platform for regional discussions on security and economic collaboration. This year, China is in charge of the organization’s rotating presidency.
