PM Modi To Visit China For SCO Summit On Aug 31st, First Trip Since 2019 Amid Tense Geopolitics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1, marking his first visit to the country since 2019. The high-profile trip comes at a time of significant geopolitical friction, including recent tensions with the United States and unresolved issues within the SCO bloc itself. Before his arrival in China, PM Modi will make a stop in Japan on August 30 for the annual India-Japan Summit with his counterpart, Fumio Kishida.

The visit is layered with complexity. It follows US President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of BRICS nations, including India, for their energy trade with Russia, which he claims is a challenge to the US dollar’s dominance. Furthermore, the SCO itself has been a venue for recent diplomatic disagreements.

During the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao in June, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a joint document. Sources indicated that the document attempted to dilute India’s strong stance against terrorism and notably omitted any mention of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

According to sources, China, as the current SCO chair, and its close ally Pakistan, were behind the push to divert the focus from terrorism in the final document. The draft reportedly included a reference to Balochistan, which was seen by New Delhi as a veiled accusation against India for allegedly fomenting unrest in the Pakistani province.

This fundamental disagreement over the issue of terrorism led to the SCO deciding against issuing a joint statement, highlighting the deep divisions that Prime Minister Modi will have to navigate during his visit.