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Five years after the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley that severely strained ties, India and China now appear to be moving toward normalization of relations.

While the US President Donald Trump’s tariff war may have nudged the two Asian powers closer, the current thaw stems largely from sustained confidence-building measures and dialogue. For Kathmandu, cordial relations between India and China create a more favorable environment to engage constructively with both New Delhi and Beijing.

On both the Doklam and the Galwan clashes, Nepal consistently maintained that disputes should be resolved peacefully. Following the Galwan incident, Nepal stated: “In the context of recent developments in the Galwan Valley area between our friendly neighbors India and China, Nepal is confident that both the neighboring countries will resolve, in the spirit of good neighborliness, their mutual differences through peaceful means in favor of bilateral, regional and world peace and stability.”

Over the past year, multiple rounds of dialogue helped rebuild trust. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India on Aug 18–19, where discussions included the sensitive border question. Earlier, in July, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar traveled to Beijing.

India has long maintained that relations cannot return to normal unless border issues are addressed. In delegation-level talks, Jaishankar remarked: “Having seen a difficult period in our relationship, our two nations seek to move ahead. This requires a candid and constructive approach from both sides. Overall, it is our expectation that our discussions would contribute to building a stable, cooperative and forward-looking relationship between India and China, one that serves both our interests and addresses our concerns.”

On the global context, he added: “We seek a fair, balanced and multi-polar world order, including a multi-polar Asia. Reformed multilateralism is also the call of the day. In the current environment, there is clearly the imperative of maintaining and enhancing stability in the global economy as well.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for his part, urged both sides to draw lessons from the past, cultivate a correct strategic outlook, and view each other as partners and opportunities rather than rivals or threats. He emphasized confidence-building, expanded cooperation and consolidating positive momentum. Pointing to the US, Wang warned that “unilateral bullying practices are on the rise, while free trade and the international order face severe challenges.”

This thaw in India-China ties comes at a time when New Delhi’s relations with Washington have soured after Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Meanwhile, China and the US have been locked in a trade and technology war since 2018.

According to Kathmandu-based geopolitical analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta, shifting global geopolitics has compelled both India and China to temporarily set aside differences. “Both countries now recognize each other as competing powers, not necessarily the binary rivals often portrayed in Western media,” he said. “The backdrop to these developments is important for countries like Nepal. For instance, the Trump administration’s tariff measures against India for its Russian oil imports came despite the fact that most major countries were doing the same, something that actually helped stabilize the global oil market, benefiting even Nepal.”

Bhatta added that India and China have long learned from each other, and countries in between stand to benefit if ties continue to improve. Closer relations could generate alternative ideas for development and global governance.

Still, he cautioned that states prioritize their own interests, especially in times of heightened geopolitics. “We too must focus on our own interests and prepare to navigate accordingly,” he said. “There’s an old saying: whether elephants fight or make love, it’s the grass that suffers. It may be old, but it remains relevant when external factors increasingly shape regional relations.”

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart (9992.HK) posted a 396.5 percent surge in first-half net profit and more than doubled revenue, driven by soaring global demand for its Labubu dolls and stronger overseas sales, Reuters reported.

The “Monsters” line, led by Labubu, earned 4.81bn yuan ($670m), over a third of total revenue, while other popular IPs like “Molly” and “Crybaby” each topped 1bn yuan.

According to Reuters, shares have risen over 200 percent this year, lifting Pop Mart’s value above Mattel and Sanrio. The company now runs 571 stores and nearly 2,600 vending machines in 18 countries, with plans to increase supply as Labubu continues to sell out worldwide.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the island must rely on its own efforts for security, after US President Donald Trump claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him Beijing would not invade the island while Trump is in office, Firstpost reported.

Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized Taiwan is boosting its defense capabilities and resilience. While the US is a key arms supplier, there is no formal defense treaty obligating intervention.

According to Firstpost, China claims Taiwan as its territory and has vowed “reunification” by force if needed. Taiwan recently held it’s longest-ever 10-day live-fire military exercises to prepare for rising tensions.

 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with China’s top diplomat on Tuesday in a sign of easing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after a yearslong standoff between the Asian powers, Associated Press reported.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with Modi and other leaders, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, about the disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. Reducing the number of troops on the border, and resuming some trade there, is expected to be on the agenda.

The rebuilding of ties coincides with friction between New Delhi and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India, a longtime ally seen as a counterbalance against China’s influence in Asia. India is part of the Quad security alliancewith the U.S. along with Australia and Japan, according to Associated Press.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi started a three-day visit to India on Monday, meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He and Doval will hold the 24th round of boundary talks, though no breakthrough is expected, Firstpost reported.

Recent steps like resuming the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra, visas, and flights have signaled easing, but experts caution these are tactical gestures, not a strategic thaw. Core issues—boundary disputes, trade gaps, and mistrust—persist, keeping ties far from normal despite speculation of closer alignment.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday for talks on the disputed Himalayan border, Beijing confirmed on Saturday.

It will be only the second high-level meeting since the deadly 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops. Relations have recently improved after an agreement last October eased the long-running standoff that strained trade and travel, according to Reuters.

The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China later this month, where he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit — his first visit to China in seven years.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while he is in office. Trump made the remarks in a Fox News interview ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine conflict. He quoted Xi as saying, “I will never do it as long as you’re president,” and added that China and its leader are “very patient”, Reuters reported.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has pledged to reunify the island by force if necessary, a claim strongly rejected by Taiwan. The Chinese Embassy in Washington called Taiwan the “most important and sensitive issue” in China-US relations and urged US to adhere to the one-China principle.

Pakistan’s Senate Deputy Chairman Syed Ali Khan Nasar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling it crucial for national and Balochistan development.

Speaking at the “CPEC in My Eyes” event, Nasar noted that travel from Quetta to Gwadar now takes 12 hours instead of 34, reflecting CPEC’s impact on ordinary citizens. He stressed involving local communities in agriculture, education, and trade to strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation, Xinhua reported.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong highlighted CPEC’s role in consolidating Pakistan’s development and pledged to jointly upgrade the corridor for a shared future.

The Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne hosted a screening of Dongji Rescue on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The film depicts the 1942 Lisbon Maru incident, when Chinese fishermen saved over 300 British prisoners of war from a sinking Japanese ship. Chinese Consul-General Fang Xinwen noted China’s role in the Eastern front and solidarity with allies. Speakers urged preserving wartime history, while viewers praised the film’s powerful message of courage and humanity, according to Xinhua.

India and China are discussing resuming border trade five years after it was halted, foreign ministry officials on both sides have said, as US tariffs disrupt the global trade order. Past trade across the icy and high-altitude Himalayan border passes between the neighbours was usually small in volume, but any resumption is significant for its symbolism. The two major economic powers have long competed for strategic influence across South Asia, AFP reported.

But caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, the countries have moved to mend ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected for talks in New Delhi on Monday, according to Indian media, after his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Beijing in July. That, as well as agreements to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas, has been seen as an effort to rebuild a relationship damaged after a deadly border clash in 2020 between their nations’ troops.

“For a long time, China-India border trade cooperation has played an important role in improving the lives of people living along the border,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP on Thursday. It added that the two sides have “reached a consensus on cross-border exchanges and cooperation, including resumption of border trade.”

New Delhi’s junior foreign minister, Kirti Vardhan Singh, told parliament last week that “India has engaged with the Chinese side to facilitate the resumption of border trade.” No restart date was given by either side. Successive US administrations have seen India as a longstanding ally with like-minded interests when it comes to China. India is part of the Quad security alliance with the United States, as well as Australia and Japan, according to AFP.

But ties between New Delhi and Washington have been strained by Trump’s ultimatum for India to end its purchases of Russian oil, a key source of revenue for Moscow as it wages its military offensive in Ukraine. The United States will double new import tariffs on India from 25 percent to 50 percent by Aug 27 if New Delhi does not switch crude suppliers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Indian media, might also visit China in late August. It would be Modi’s first visit since 2018, although it has not been confirmed officially. Beijing has said that ‘China welcomes Prime Minister Modi’ for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening on Aug 31, AFP reported.

China has voiced support for Thailand and Cambodia in resolving their border dispute, offering assistance if both nations request it, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Yunnan, Wang urged the two countries to strengthen dialogue and rebuild mutual trust, according to Reuters.

China has called on the United States to stop exaggerating security concerns and interfering with its global trade relations, Xinhua reported.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, responded Wednesday to US claims that Chinese companies are establishing a network of ports worldwide to exert control over trade and conduct espionage. Lin urged the US to halt its “so-called China threat” rhetoric and refrain from disrupting China’s economic and trade cooperation with other nations.

A 31.82-megawatt photovoltaic power station built by China’s Pinggao Group International Engineering Co., Ltd. has been completed in Stefan cel Mare, Calarasi County, southeastern Romania, Xinhua reported.

Constructed over 10 months, the plant will operate for 25 years, producing 42m kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reducing carbon emissions by 20,000 tonnes.

At the inauguration, Chinese and Romanian officials hailed the project as a milestone in green energy cooperation, highlighting its role in climate action and local development. Local leaders welcomed further Chinese investment, calling the plant a source of pride and a boost to Romania’s renewable energy capacity, according to Xinhua.

Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty to smuggling about 850 protected eastern and three-toed box turtles from the US to Hong Kong between 2023 and 2024. The turtles, valued at $1.4m, were wrapped in socks and mislabeled as “plastic animal toys.”

According to BBC, both species are protected under international law and require export permits. Lin also smuggled other reptiles and faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing set for December 23.

This follows a similar 2024 case where another smuggler was sentenced for trafficking over 2,000 turtles.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke on Monday, emphasizing stronger cooperation between their countries. Xi called for China and Brazil to set an example of unity for the Global South and pledged support for Brazil’s sovereignty, Al Jazeera reported.

The leaders agreed to deepen ties in areas like health, energy, and the digital economy, and stressed the importance of multilateralism through groups like BRICS and the G20. Lula highlighted China’s key role in the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

Their discussion comes amid growing trade tensions with the US, which recently imposed tariffs on both nations. China remains Brazil’s largest trading partner, with trade reaching $188bn last year, according to Al Jazeera.

Taiwan is preparing for Typhoon Podul, expected to hit the southeastern city of Taitung on Wednesday with winds up to 155 kph (96 mph). Nearly 700 people in Hualien County are being evacuated due to flooding risks from a landslide-formed dam, Reuters reported.

After hitting the southeast, Podul will move toward the densely populated west coast and then China’s Fujian province. Heavy rain of up to 600 mm has been forecasted in southern mountains.

The region is still recovering from July’s storms, which caused flooding, power outages, and four deaths. Authorities urge residents to stay alert and follow safety orders.