New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum 2025, described the India-China relationship as a “complex equilibrium” between two rising powers navigating a rapidly changing global landscape. He noted that both India and China are in the midst of reshaping their positions in the world while also dealing with each other as immediate neighbours with a long history and unresolved border disputes. Jaishankar pointed out that while China began its modernisation process earlier, largely due to missed opportunities by past Indian governments, both nations are now asserting their influence on the global stage. This simultaneous rise is creating a new geopolitical balance—not only between the two countries and the rest of the world but also between each other. He emphasized that the Indo-China relationship is shaped by numerous dimensions, including territorial tensions, economic and trade issues, contrasting political systems, and strategic concerns related to their shared neighbourhood. Highlighting the unique nature of both as civilisational states with populations exceeding a billion, Jaishankar said the relationship is far more layered and nuanced than it may appear. Addressing Europe’s position on China, he acknowledged that while some European nations have adopted a more pragmatic and cautious approach, the continent as a whole is evolving in its stance, albeit at varying speeds. Ultimately, he stressed that India’s approach to China involves a careful balance—leveraging opportunities while staying vigilant—amid a broader effort to manage a complex and evolving strategic environment.
