China Must Walk the Talk – Hollow Diplomacy and High-Level Optics Can't Mask Ground Reality

The recent high-profile visits of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Beijing, marked by polite exchanges and ceremonial courtesies, might create the illusion of a breakthrough in India-China ties. On the surface, these engagements project a return to normalcy — a rewind to the pre-2020 era, before Chinese troops launched sudden incursions into Indian territory. But beneath the staged warmth and smooth-talking diplomacy lies an uncomfortable truth: