Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. This marks his first visit to China since 2019 and comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting global alliances.

Before heading to China, PM Modi is scheduled to visit Japan on August 30 for the annual India-Japan Summit, where he will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The two leaders are expected to discuss deepening strategic cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

PM Modi’s participation in the SCO Summit holds significance against the backdrop of recent international developments. U.S. President Donald Trump recently criticised BRICS nations, including India and China, for purchasing oil from Russia, accusing them of undermining the dominance of the U.S. dollar and indirectly supporting Russia's war efforts.

India’s approach to global platforms like BRICS and SCO has remained focused on strategic autonomy. During the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in June in Qingdao, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a joint declaration that sought to dilute India's stance on terrorism. This decision followed the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

India objected to the SCO document that omitted any mention of the attack, while including references to Balochistan, seen as an indirect attempt by Pakistan and China to blame India for internal unrest in the Pakistani province. With China currently holding the SCO chair, its alignment with Pakistan has drawn criticism for allegedly attempting to shift the narrative away from terrorism. PM Modi’s visit will be closely watched for how India navigates these diplomatic sensitivities and asserts its position on key regional and security issues.