India–China Relations: Modi–Xi Talks [Prelims Bits]

13 Sep 2026

Tags: Prelims   Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to improve trade, people-to-people ties and border stability.

• Xi Jinping’s proposed visit would be his first visit to New Delhi since 2014.

Border Issues

• Line of Actual Control (LAC): Tensions persist despite the October 2024 announcement of disengagement from all identified friction points.
• Western Sector: 2020 tensions included clashes at Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso.
• Eastern Sector: Arunachal Pradesh, particularly Taksing, remains a concern, with forces reportedly continuing to maintain forward positions.
• India and China have recently held Corps Commander-level talks in the Eastern Sector.
• Special Representatives (SR) mechanism: India’s National Security Adviser and China’s Foreign Minister have been engaging through this mechanism to address boundary-related issues.

Transboundary Rivers

• River-related issues have gained importance following flash floods linked to glacial collapse in the China–Nepal border region.
• India and China share several transboundary river systems, making hydrological data-sharing and upstream activities important bilateral concerns.
• Bilateral trade increased from around $70 billion in 2014 to about $150 billion recently.
• India’s trade deficit with China increased from around $38 billion to $113 billion over the same period.
• Key issues: trade imbalance, export controls and Chinese investment in India.
• LAC: Not an internationally demarcated boundary; it represents the de facto line separating Indian- and Chinese-controlled territories.
• India–China boundary sectors: Western, Middle and Eastern sectors; Arunachal Pradesh falls in the Eastern Sector.