India-China thaw: rare earths, border headway as Trump turns up tariff heat
Mutual distrust remains deep but progress reflects pragmatic efforts on both sides to gain leverage in shifting global order, experts say
Experts highlight that even as deep mistrust lingers, the Asian powers view mounting US tariff pressure as an opportunity to show Washington that they can push back and have other options.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said the two sides would create an “expert group” to explore an “early harvest” approach to boundary delimitation in disputed areas. This marks a shift from New Delhi’s earlier opposition to prioritising settlement in less contentious sectors, particularly in the Sikkim region, in favour of a comprehensive resolution. There are three other disputed sectors along the Sino-India border: western, middle and eastern.
The two sides also pledged to take “concrete” steps to boost trade and investment flows.