2026

India-China Geopolitical Power Transition After The Galwan Clash: From Major Competition To Co-Operation In The Changing World Order:

Author(s): Chandana Sahu

Abstract

In the changing geopolitical landscape, India-China bilateral relationship has entered a new phase after the Galwan clash. In 2024, after four years, both countries agreed to resolve their issues to strengthen their strategic relations. India and China have had trade connections since ancient times, along the Silk Road. They have not only shared trade relations but also made connections through the bridges of Bodhidharma and various cultures and traditions. In the 1950s, India-China bilateral relations entered a new phase, in which India emerged as a democratic country, and China established itself as a communist nation. At first, India was the first country to recognise China as a communist nation. Still, China had various issues with specific regions within Indian territory, which it claimed as its own. After the 1962 Sino-Indian war, Indian government was alerted to China's intentions, and from that point onward, tensions escalated. Although both countries have been trying to resolve their border issues through joint working meetings (JWM). China’s continued attacks and incursions into disputed border areas have made its relationship more complicated. Especially after the 2020 Galwan attack, India-China relationship came to a standstill. But after 2024, both countries agreed to reestablish relations. Both countries met in late Oct 2024 to discontinue patrolling in areas like Depsang and Demchok along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In 2024, at the BRICS summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping held a dialogue. In August 2025, at the SCO summit, both countries met and signed a cautious thaw, agreeing to be partners, rather than rivals. India and China focused mainly on stabilising border security, resuming direct flights, and managing economic linkages to foster a new chapter in bilateral relations. In 2026, both countries are now in a phase of strategic shift from discontinuity to the reestablishment of new relations. In this paper, the main research objective is to examine the strategic and geopolitical impact of the Galwan Valley clash on their bilateral relations. The theoretical framework for both countries would be offensive realism, given their changing dynamics.