PM Modi likely to visit China on August 31: First since Galwan Valley clash amid US trade tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Japan on August 30, followed by a visit to China on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. 

In the first leg of the tour, PM Modi is likely to hold annual summit-level talks with his Japanese counterpart to strengthen strategic and economic ties.

SCO Summit in China: PM Modi’s first visit since Ladakh standoff

After concluding his visit to Japan, the prime minister is expected to travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, slated for August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin. This will mark his first trip to China since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, with his previous visit taking place in 2019.

Also Read:PM Modi rules out talks with Trump amid tariff hike threats  

Global tensions over Russia and BRICS shadow visit

PM Modi’s potential trip comes amid heightened global scrutiny over the actions of BRICS nations, especially with US President Donald Trump slamming the bloc for buying oil from Russia and “challenging dollar hegemony.”

Russia, an SCO member, is expected to send its representatives to the summit. However, it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin will attend the gathering.

Trade tensions and terrorism cloud regional cooperation

While the Trump administration had earlier imposed high tariffs during its trade war with China, most of them have now been rolled back to 30 per cent following ongoing discussions. However, in recent days, Trump has also targeted India by imposing a 25 per cent tariff due to its trade ties with Russia. He has accused New Delhi of purchasing Russian oil and selling it in the open market, thereby “fueling the war machine” — a reference to Russia — and has threatened to increase the tariff even further within 24 hours.

Also Read:US State Department declines to comment on India’s response to Trump’s tariff threat

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) currently has nine member states: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. The grouping focuses on regional security, counter-terrorism, economic cooperation, and connectivity.

PM Modi’s presence at the summit would reaffirm India’s role in regional multilateral forums while navigating complex global trade, security, and diplomatic challenges.