Rajnath's China visit for SCO marks new phase in India–China thaw since Modi-Xi 2024 meet

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the Chinese port city of Qingdao on Wednesday (June 25) to attend the Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), marking a rare and significant visit as relations between the two countries continue to be strained by a prolonged border standoff.

This is the first visit by a senior Indian minister to China since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020 and also the first time in 12 years that an Indian defence minister has visited the country.

First Indian defence minister visit to China in 12 years

The last time an Indian defence minister visited China was in 2013, when then Minister A.K. Antony travelled to Beijing. Since then, India-China ties have seen repeated disruptions, with the most severe rupture occurring in 2020 following the military confrontation in Galwan Valley.

The clash resulted in casualties on both sides and led to a breakdown in routine bilateral exchanges. Tensions have persisted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, where both countries have deployed thousands of troops since May 2020.

Rajnath Singh’s visit now comes at a time when both sides have made limited progress in de-escalation talks but have yet to achieve full disengagement at multiple friction points.

First high-level Indian visit since Modi-Xi meeting in 2024

Singh’s trip is also the first ministerial-level visit from India to China since Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the 2024 SCO Summit. That brief meeting, although largely symbolic, was interpreted as an attempt to restore diplomatic channels between the two sides.

Since then, no other Indian cabinet-level official has visited China, making Singh’s presence in Qingdao an important diplomatic signal ahead of possible future engagements.

Singh to outline India’s anti-terrorism and security vision

During the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on June 25–26, Singh is expected to reiterate India’s support for the SCO’s founding principles, including mutual respect for sovereignty and regional security cooperation. He will also outline India’s vision for peace, and call for collective and sustained efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, according to Indian officials.

“Looking forward to present India’s vision for global peace and security and also, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism,” Singh said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the summit.

Bilateral talks with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov are expected to take place on the sidelines of the SCO meeting. Discussions are likely to include regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and the status of border disengagement between India and China.

Who is attending from India and China?

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is leading India’s delegation to the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting. He is accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian armed forces. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is also scheduled to participate in separate SCO security discussions in China that focus on regional counterterrorism efforts.

From the Chinese side, Admiral Dong Jun, who serves as China’s Defence Minister, is hosting the meeting and will chair the summit-level discussions. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Singh and other visiting counterparts.

Meetings since 2024

Although Singh’s visit is the first Indian cabinet-level trip to China in years, both countries have continued lower-level dialogues in 2024 and 2025. Corps Commander-level talks have taken place intermittently to manage tensions along the LAC. However, they have yielded only partial success, with many points of military standoff still unresolved.

India has repeatedly called for complete disengagement and restoration of pre-2020 status quo in eastern Ladakh. Meanwhile, China has pushed for a broader reset of ties, even as infrastructure buildup continues on both sides of the border.

Singh’s visit to Qingdao could potentially pave the way for a more formal high-level dialogue between India and China, but expectations remain cautious amid persistent mistrust.

The SCO, which includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan and Central Asian countries, has become an increasingly important forum for regional dialogue on security and economic cooperation. This year, China holds the rotating chair of the organisation.