{
  "id": 13804092,
  "title": "Despite a China-India thaw, military relations are stuck in 2020",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/despite-a-china-india-thaw-military-relations-are-stuck-in-2020-13804092",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T21:30:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370226/despite-china-india-thaw-military-relations-are-stuck-2020"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Despite a recent thaw in China-India relations, military ties remain at a standstill, reminiscent of 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have met three times in the past three years, yet trust between the two armies remains elusive. The last joint military training occurred in December 2019, before a deadly border clash claimed 24 lives. Recently, a border exercise in Aug 2020 brought together 400 troops from 12 Asian nations, excluding China. While India welcomes improved civilian ties, it remains wary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), preferring to keep military communication at a minimum. The US, on the other hand, has established communication channels with China, signaling a willingness to engage. India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently agreed to establish military hotlines and meeting points for senior commanders. However, these efforts may be insufficient, as the armies still lack a comprehensive understanding of each other's intentions and strategies. The Line of Actual Control, a de facto border, has not bridged the gap between the two militaries, leading to a lack of trust and frequent incidents. To improve relations, India should revive its Hand-in-Hand counterterrorism exercise, open its defense staff colleges to Chinese officers, and conduct joint disaster response drills. In return, China should exercise restraint in buffer zones, provide advance notice of large military exercises, and collaborate in investigating incidents. Ultimately, both countries must demonstrate openness and patience, as their military cooperation holds the key to regional stability.",
  "summary": "Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi three times in the past three years. Indian pilgrims are back at Kailash, the Tibetan mountain sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. Air China has restarted flights to New Delhi. But can trust grow between two armies that meet only in a crisis? And why does the Pentagon now talk to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) more easily…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Despite a China-India thaw, military relations are stuck in 2020",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/despite-a-china-india-thaw-military-relations-are-stuck-in-2020",
        "published": "2026-10-11T21:30:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}