As global tensions grow from tariffs to terror, the question arises: Are India-China relations quietly warming under the ground? Despite the post-conflict diplomatic frost in Galwan, trade tells a different story. In 2023, bilateral trade reached an astonishing US$136.2 billion, and China remains one of India’s highest partners. From telecommunications to pharmaceuticals, China is a key sector of the Indian economy. China has even begun sending positive signals to Indians about more than 85,000 visas …Read moreIn just four months, India led the local business of Chinese companies. So, is this economic interdependence avenue of reconciliation or a strategic convenience? Even if New Delhi curbs Chinese applications and investments, the process for commodities and even visas continues. Host Anirban Chaudhury spoke with Cornell professor and economist Wendong Zhang; former Indian ambassador to China Ashok Kantha; ET’s Dipanjan Roy Choudhury on why, as China faces a bruising tariff war with the United States, India may be more economically essential than it seems. Is this economic pragmatism a sign of strategic recalibration?
