Two Indian television stations reported on 6/8 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on 31/8.

An Indian government source confirmed the reports to Reuters. However, neither the Indian nor Chinese governments have officially announced the visit.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok, Thailand on 3/4. Photo: AFP

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok, Thailand on 3/4. Photo: AFP

If it takes place, this will be Modi's first visit to China since June 2018. Relations between India and China have been strained since then, particularly following border clashes in 2020.

The recent improvement in India-China relations comes as New Delhi faces pressure from the US. On 6/8, President Donald Trump signed an order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, bringing the total tariffs to 50%. "I have determined that the government of India is directly or indirectly importing oil from Russia," Trump said, explaining the tariff increase.

The US president is also expected to announce additional tariffs on Chinese imports for similar reasons. China currently faces a general import tariff of 30% on goods sold to the US.

The Kremlin defended India's right to choose its trading partners. Russia has become India's top oil supplier since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Before the conflict, India imported less than 100,000 barrels of Russian oil per day, accounting for about 2.5% of its imports. This figure surged to over 1.8 million barrels per day in 2023, representing about 39% of imports, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Indian national security advisor Ajit Doval is currently visiting Russia and is expected to discuss oil purchases. Indian officials may also discuss defense cooperation with Russia, including expedited access to Moscow's S400 air defense systems.

Ngoc Anh (Reuters, AFP)