As defence and security chiefs from across Asia converge in Qingdao for a two-day conclave under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has declared his intention to press for a unified campaign against terrorism and renewed regional cooperation.
“Looking forward to present India’s vision for global peace and security and also, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism,” Mr Singh posted on social media platform X on Wednesday morning, before departing for China.
This is the first high-level visit by an Indian Union Minister to China since bilateral relations were strained following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2020. His visit comes on the heels of Operation Sindoor, India’s targeted airstrikes on Pakistan-backed terror camps, conducted in response to the Pahalgam attack.
India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, is also in China for a parallel SCO meeting of national security advisors. The developments signal a calibrated diplomatic effort by New Delhi to re-engage with regional stakeholders on security and counterterrorism.
The meeting in Qingdao, scheduled for 25–26 June, is expected to deliberate on the evolving security architecture in the region. Mr Singh will also hold bilateral discussions with counterparts from Russia, China, and other participating nations.
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According to the Ministry of Defence, Mr Singh will emphasise the need for “joint, consistent, and coordinated action to eliminate threats to peace and stability,” while also underlining India's commitment to the SCO's founding principles, including respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
“India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region,” the ministry said in an official note ahead of the conclave.
China, currently holding the rotating chair of the eight-nation bloc, is hosting the summit in the eastern port city of Qingdao in Shandong province.
While the minister is expected to address regional terrorism at the SCO plenary, Indian diplomatic sources indicated he will also highlight the importance of greater connectivity, economic cooperation and the role of the SCO in shaping a multipolar world order.
India’s relations with China have remained tepid since the Galwan clash in June 2020, but recent exchanges—such as NSA Doval’s visit to Beijing in December and the revival of the Special Representatives dialogue—have pointed towards a cautious thaw.
The decision to revive the SR mechanism was taken during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on 23 October 2024.
India’s participation in the Qingdao summit underlines its strategy to balance assertive diplomacy on issues like cross-border terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan, with broader engagement on regional cooperation and dialogue.
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