Indian Sources Welcome 'Tone Shift' As China’s Yi Signals 'Good Momentum' In Ties

Last Updated:December 31, 2025, 11:39 IST

While Wang Yi spoke about China's role, he avoided any explicit reference to Pakistan’s CPEC projects or the long-standing rhetoric of Pakistan being China’s “iron brother”

Wang Yi spoke at length about China acting as a “pillar” of stability in its neighbourhood and a “defining force” amid a changing international order. (AFP)

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has vowed to maintain good relations with India, repeatedly highlighting what he described as a “positive momentum" in China-India ties, in remarks that appear aimed at reassuring New Delhi amid growing global and regional turbulence, top government sources told CNN-News18.

Speaking at a year-ender keynote address, Yi said Beijing had invited Indian leaders to China and stressed that stable ties between the two Asian giants were essential as the risks of conflict and confrontation among major countries, including in South Asia and the Middle East, are “clearly on the rise".

While Yi spoke at length about China acting as a “pillar" of stability in its neighbourhood and a “defining force" amid a changing international order, he avoided any explicit reference to Pakistan’s China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects or the long-standing rhetoric of Pakistan being China’s “iron brother". The omission is being seen by observers as a deliberate recalibration of public messaging.

Top sources interpret Yi’s emphasis on India, and the absence of overt Pakistan references, as risk-management diplomacy rather than a fundamental policy shift. “This is not warmth; it is damage control," a senior official said, adding that Beijing appears conscious that overt emphasis on Pakistan complicates outreach to India, especially after years of border tensions, PLA posturing, and a deep trust deficit along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Yi also claimed that China had mediated tensions between India and Pakistan, projecting Beijing as a regional power broker. However, Indian officials reject this assertion, viewing India-Pakistan issues as strictly bilateral and not open to third-party mediation. “This is speaking without facts," a source said, cautioning that such claims are unacceptable from New Delhi’s perspective.

In his broader remarks, Yi said China and the United States must find the “right way" to coexist as major powers and reiterated Beijing’s position that any attempt to block China’s reunification would “fail". He also repeatedly stated that having China as a neighbour is “a fortunate thing," a line widely interpreted as directed at India and Southeast Asian countries.

Analysts note that Beijing’s current tone reflects an effort to stabilise its regional environment and soften India’s strategic concerns at a time of global uncertainty. “This is not a policy shift; it’s a tone shift," a source said, underscoring that while the rhetoric has changed, core issues in the relationship remain unresolved.

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