Peace talks have been ongoing, resulting in Indian and Chinese troops pulling back from their common borders last year, and there are other signs of possibly warmer bilateral ties.

The two countries have agreed to resolve a vexing territorial dispute and resume two-way trade and direct flights after their relations plunged following a border clash in 2020.

At the same time, Trump’s tariffs on both countries have given ample reasons for Beijing and New Delhi to redouble their cooperation and seek greater common ground.

“First of all, there is no reason for them [India and China] to be hostile to each other,” said Yashwant Deshmukh, an independent political commentator, noting that trade and cultural exchanges have happened for thousands of years between the countries.