India and China are on the verge of resuming direct passenger flights after nearly a five-year interruption, an opportunity now emerging amidst escalating strains between India and the United States. The Indian government has directed its carriers to stand ready for deployment to Chinese destinations at short notice, with a formal announcement anticipated during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit slated for late August. This marks a notable shift from talks held in January 2025, when Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing and secured an agreement “in principle” to restore direct air links and people-to-people exchanges, as soon as technical details could be worked out.
This aviation thaw comes at a precarious moment in global diplomacy: while Washington has moved to strengthen trade leverage, slapping steep tariffs on Indian goods and deepening frictions. New Delhi appears to be hedging by thawing ties with Beijing. Analysts interpret the resumption of flights, alongside renewed pilgrimage routes and visa measures, as New Delhi’s calibrated attempt to diversify its foreign-policy options in response to growing U.S. unpredictability.
Indeed, in recent months India and China have taken tangible steps toward rapprochement, easing restrictions on Chinese tourists and pilgrims, including restoring access to the Kailash–Mansarovar spiritual circuit, restoration seen as emblematic of a broader re-engagement strategy.
Whether renewed air connectivity will usher in deeper trust remains uncertain. The 2020 Galwan Valley standoff, which cost lives and left mutual mistrust deeply entrenched, continues to cast a long shadow over the relationship.
