3 Things Chinese FM's India visit, wastewater surveillance, and a rare vote recounting
Aug 21, 2025
Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Indian Express, offers insights into the recent visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, addressing the delicate balance of cooperation and conflict in India-China relations. Anonna Dutt, who reports on health for The Indian Express, dives into wastewater surveillance, explaining its vital role in tracking diseases across 50 Indian cities. The conversation also touches on a rare Supreme Court-supervised recount of a sarpanch election in Haryana, revealing the complexities and implications for electoral integrity.
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Visit Signals Cautious Normalization
- The Wang Yi visit marks the first senior-level Chinese engagement since troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh and signals cautious normalization.
- It prepares the ground for PM Modi's likely trip to China and wider diplomatic re-engagement.
Practical Steps To Restore Ties
- New measures include restarting visas, direct flights and pilgrimage access to rebuild people-to-people ties.
- These steps aim to restore bilateral exchanges even while border talks continue.
De‑escalation Depends On Trust
- De‑escalation means scaling back tens of thousands of troops still deployed along the LAC to pre-standoff levels.
- Trust-building will determine the pace and extent of troop reductions, not just diplomatic statements.