Significant Meeting Between India's Jaishankar and China's Xi Jinping
A Pivotal Encounter in Beijing
A recent image from Beijing has sparked widespread discussion globally. This attention stems from two main factors: it marks the first meeting between India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese President Xi Jinping following Operation Sindoor, and it is also Xi's first public appearance after a month of speculation regarding his absence and rumors of a potential coup.
The significance of the photograph capturing Jaishankar shaking hands with Xi cannot be overstated. The handshake carried more weight this time, as India had prepared some strategic responses for China prior to their meeting.
Jaishankar's visit to China was part of the SCO meeting amid an ongoing undeclared cold war between India and China. This meeting was particularly notable as Xi had been out of the public eye for a month, leading to speculation about his political stability.
Reports suggested that preparations for a coup were underway, but Xi's sudden appearance and handshake with Jaishankar raised questions. Experts believe that this meeting does not necessarily indicate the end of the unrest against Xi; it could be a strategic move to suppress negative news.
Regardless of Xi's future, the dynamics of the meeting between Jaishankar and Xi were influenced by prior events. During Operation Sindoor, China had orchestrated significant maneuvers against India, providing extensive support to Pakistan. However, India arrived in China well-prepared.
Jaishankar later shared on social media that he briefed President Xi on the recent advancements in India-China bilateral relations. His visit to China for the SCO conference marks his first since the military clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020, which had strained bilateral ties.
On the social media platform X, Jaishankar mentioned that he met with President Xi Jinping and foreign ministers from SCO member countries in Beijing. He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the importance of recent progress in bilateral relations.