Speaking to India Today, former Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kantha analyzed the state of bilateral relations following official discussions and statements. He dismissed notions of a breakthrough, stating, “I will not characterize it as a new dawn in India-China relations or a reset of relations.” Kantha highlighted key differences in the diplomatic readouts from New Delhi and Beijing, noting that India treats peace and tranquility at the border as an essential prerequisite for normalization, whereas China seeks to advance relations on parallel tracks. He pointed out unresolved operational realities on the ground, such as reports of Chinese transgressions in Arunachal Pradesh and an absence of de-escalation. Furthermore, Kantha cited structural hurdles, including widening trade imbalances, Chinese decrees restricting technology transfers, China-Pakistan battlefield coordination during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, and unilateral hydropower dam construction in seismically active Tibet.
