In a carefully choreographed yet diplomatically weighty encounter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral discussion with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Don Jun, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ conclave in Qingdao. Amid a backdrop of regional tensions, the two sides exchanged views aimed at preserving stability and avoiding fresh complications in bilateral relations.
The meeting, held on Friday, was described by Singh as a “constructive and forward-looking exchange,” focusing on matters of mutual interest and regional security. “Held talks with Admiral Don Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao,” the minister posted on social media platform X, alongside a photograph of the two leaders. “We had a constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on issues pertaining to bilateral relations.”
Significantly, Singh presented Admiral Don Jun with a traditional Madhubani painting from Bihar — a cultural gesture rooted in the Mithila region's artistic heritage. The intricate artwork, renowned for its vibrant hues and fine detailing, was a nod to India’s soft diplomacy at work within a larger, strategically significant dialogue.
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“Expressed my happiness on restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both the sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship,” Singh said.
Terror, diplomacy, and discord
The bilateral meeting took place against a larger diplomatic standoff within the SCO forum. According to sources cited by news agency ANI, Singh refused to endorse the joint communiqué at the conclusion of the defence ministers’ conference. The refusal came in response to the omission of the Pahalgam terror attack, which India considers a significant act of cross-border terrorism. The Pakistani delegation, meanwhile, had reportedly pressed for inclusion of a reference to militant activities in Balochistan, a move New Delhi viewed as a diversionary tactic.
At the plenary session, Singh reiterated India’s long-standing position on terrorism, particularly state-sponsored cross-border terror. “There can be no place for double standards,” he said, calling for “perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors” of terrorism to be held accountable.
Earlier this week, Singh had remarked during his visit to Udhampur that Operation Sindoor was a testament to India’s capacity to neutralise terrorist threats with speed and precision.
Singh arrived in Qingdao on Wednesday evening as India’s representative at the SCO meet, which includes member states China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
India's consistent hardline on terrorism and principled rejection of ambiguous language in multilateral communiqués have come to define its diplomatic posture within the SCO, particularly in forums where Islamabad plays a vocal role.
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