25 Aug 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : India and China may be moving towards a more stable relationship, but deep structural differences have not disappeared, according to Chinese strategic affairs scholar Hu Shisheng.
Speaking ahead of the latest India-China boundary talks, Hu said both countries are likely to focus on managing differences, preventing border tensions and building a more stable form of competitive coexistence rather than seeking an immediate breakthrough.
Border Stability Takes Priority
Hu said the immediate focus of the boundary discussions should be less on achieving a dramatic settlement and more on institutionalising stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
He said both sides need to strengthen military and diplomatic communication to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations.
25th Round of Boundary Talks
India and China are holding the 25th round of talks between their Special Representatives on the boundary question.
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to review the border situation as well as the broader relationship between the two countries.
No Immediate Border Breakthrough Expected
Hu said recent discussions have made some procedural progress on boundary delimitation, including discussions within the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination.
However, he noted that there is still no public indication of a concrete agreement on sectoral delimitation. He suggested that the next practical step would be to make the proposed Expert Group operational and establish its mandate and timetable.
Relations Moving Towards ‘Competitive Coexistence’
Hu described the broader normalisation of ties as “strategic risk management rather than strategic realignment.”
According to him, both countries appear to be seeking a more stable relationship while accepting that strategic competition will continue. The approach involves keeping the border peaceful, restoring practical cooperation and expanding coordination through platforms such as BRICS and the Global South.
Structural Differences Remain
Despite recent efforts to improve relations, major differences continue to shape the India-China relationship.
These include the unresolved boundary dispute, strategic competition, economic imbalances and differing approaches to regional security. Analysts have also highlighted the continuing trust deficit between New Delhi and Beijing.
Xi Jinping’s Expected India Visit
The talks have gained additional significance because Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the BRICS Summit in September, which would be his first visit to India in seven years.
Hu said the border talks could help create a favourable political atmosphere for possible leader-level engagement.
India-U.S. Relations Also a Factor
Hu suggested that recent difficulties in India-U.S. relations could encourage New Delhi to diversify its strategic options.
At the same time, he said relatively stable China-U.S. relations could reduce some external pressure on China-India ties. However, he cautioned that these developments do not remove the underlying differences between Beijing and New Delhi.
Managing Rivalry Without Ignoring Differences
The Chinese scholar’s assessment suggests that the current phase of India-China relations is less about a complete reset and more about preventing rivalry from turning into confrontation.
Both sides have incentives to maintain border stability while gradually restoring areas of practical cooperation.
What Happens Next
The success of the current engagement will depend on whether India and China can establish mechanisms that prevent fresh border incidents while making measurable progress on unresolved issues.
For now, the relationship appears to be moving towards managed competition, rather than a full strategic reconciliation.