China Monitor
The monitor features developments related to China during the month and is compiled by our research team of Amb. Biren Nanda, Senior Fellow, and Sanket Joshi, Research Associate, from open-source reports and publications.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31, 2025. Both leaders welcomed “positive momentum” and “steady progress” in bilateral relations since their meeting in Kazan in October 2024. It was noted that the two countries were development partners, not rivals, and that their differences should not escalate into disputes.
Earlier, Wang Yi, the Director of China’s Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, visited India on August 18-19, 2025, and held meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. On August 19, 2025, NSA Ajit Doval and Director Wang Yi co-chaired the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ (SR) dialogue on the Boundary Question between India and China. They noted that since the 23rd round of SR Talks, peace and tranquillity has been maintained in the border areas, which was essential to promote the overall development of bilateral relations.
President Trump signed an executive order on August 11, 2025, extending the tariff truce with China for 90 days, citing Beijing's "significant steps" toward remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and addressing US economic and national security concerns. Although Beijing and Washington have extended their tariff truce, analysts believe that their trade friction will persist, with neither side able to definitively impose its will on the other.
Following the US-Russia Summit held in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025, reports indicated that President Trump had informed Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that to end the war with Russia, Kyiv would have to give up its NATO membership ambitions and aspirations to retake Crimea. In light of this, Chinese analysts asserted that the “Ukraine crisis has taught Europe a lesson in realpolitik”, emphasising that this situation stems from NATO's "America-centric" nature, Cold War thinking, and attempts at eastward expansion.
President Xi addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. He urged SCO member-states to adhere to the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilisations, and pursue common development. He also emphasised that the SCO should become a proactive force for world peace and development by “opposing hegemonism” and power politics.
In commemoration of China's 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the PLA will hold a high profile parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. This parade will feature some of China's most advanced strategic systems, and Beijing intends to convey to the world the importance of maintaining an accurate historical perspective of World War II, safeguarding the post-war international order, and ensuring international fairness and justice.
To read this China Monitor, Vol. VIII, Issue 8, please see the PDF attached.
