India has long been viewed as an important player in China’s efforts to woo Global South economies, but that might soon change.
India’s forthcoming trade deal with the United States and its intensifying conflict with Pakistan could hamper a recovery in ties between New Delhi and Beijing – potentially complicating China’s broader push to win over the developing world, according to analysts.
Pradeep Taneja, senior lecturer in Asian studies at the University of Melbourne, noted that China’s ties with India, which had been marked by clashes along their shared border, had improved as both sides took steps towards a thaw.
He said that while China-India ties would not “go backwards”, there were looming issues that could add a layer of complexity, one of which was India’s developing trade deal with the US.
India has moved quickly on an economic deal with Washington since the administration of US President Donald Trump announced a 26 per cent tariff rate on Indian imports earlier this month. On Tuesday, Trump said negotiations with India were “coming along great”.
“I think we’ll have a deal with India,” Trump added.
