Rajnath Singh May Visit China for SCO Defence Meet — First Since Galwan Clash

Rajnath Singh Likely to Visit China for SCO Defence Meet — First Since Galwan Clash.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to travel to Qingdao, China, later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting. The visit, if confirmed, would mark his first trip to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and the first ministerial-level Indian visit since the two sides agreed to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

China, which holds the SCO presidency this year, has extended a formal invitation to Singh for the summit. His participation would signal a cautious step forward in bilateral ties, which have remained strained since the deadly border confrontation in June 2020.

The likely visit follows a key agreement reached in October 2024, under which India and China resumed limited patrolling and began phased troop withdrawals in friction zones along the LAC.

Singh last held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, during the ADMM-Plus summit in Laos, marking their first face-to-face meeting after the disengagement pact. His anticipated visit to Qingdao would be a continuation of India’s calibrated approach to restoring military and diplomatic engagement.

Beyond the SCO agenda, the visit could also pave the way for renewed discussions on broader bilateral issues. These include the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, restoring direct air connectivity, sharing hydrological data, and easing visa regulations to revive people-to-people ties.

India has publicly reiterated its support for China’s SCO presidency. This stance was reaffirmed during recent talks in New Delhi between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, underscoring a shared interest in stabilising regional dynamics despite persistent trust deficits.