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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.
On March 5, 2026, in his remarks at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau reiterated Washington's intent to deepen its strategic partnership with India based on “reciprocity and mutual respect”. While outlining the potential of the U.S.-India partnership, he cautioned that Washington “will not make the same mistakes with India as it did with China two decades ago”.
Reacting to this, on March 7, 2026, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar asserted that “the rise of India will be determined by India, by our strength, not by the mistakes of others”. Meanwhile, China's Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, articulated Beijing's perspective that India and China's development is the “result of their own efforts and wisdom" and is not a product of someone else’s “generosity”.
On March 8, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed a press conference on the margins of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC). He noted an improvement in China-India relations and expressed satisfaction with the re-energised interactions at all levels. Major issues discussed by Wang Yi included China and Russia adding momentum to the advent of a multipolar world; sound, steady, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations; and developing ties with the EU as a key partner in the journey towards modernisation.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump's visit to China was rescheduled for May 14-15, 2026, in view of Trump's need to remain in Washington during the ongoing combat operations against Iran.
The U.S. and China held the sixth round of their high-level trade dialogue in Paris on March 15-16, 2026. The Chinese side noted that the outcomes of the five rounds of trade dialogue have injected “greater certainty and stability” in China-U.S. relations as well as the global economy. However, Beijing reiterated its concerns about the U.S.’ imposition of an additional 10 percent tariff and Section 301 investigations into China’s industrial overcapacity.
China expressed deep concern about the global oil crisis triggered by the U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran. Chinese analysts pointed out that President Trump's vision of single-minded containment of China has been undermined by the U.S.' direct involvement in a web of multi-front crises, sapping its national power while China waits and watches.
On March 5, 2026,Premier Li Qiang delivered a ‘Report on the Work of the Government’ to the NPC.China has set a GDP growth target of 4.5-5 percent for 2026, while its defence budget has been increased by 7 percent to CNY 1.91 trillion (around USD 275 billion).
The Government Work Report also listed main objectives and major tasks for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Beijing intends to foster “emerging and future industries” with a focus on energy, quantum technology, embodied AI (robotics), brain-computer interfaces, biomanufacturing, and 6G technology.
To read this issue please click China Monitor, Vol. IX, Issue 3.
