Sri Lanka, Aug. 24 -- For decades, the India-China relationship has oscillated between guarded cooperation and deep hostility. Since the deadly Himalayan clashes in 2020 to the flurry of trade bans, troop build-ups, and cancelled flights, the two Asian giants seemed locked in a cycle of mistrust.

Yet this month, there has been a visible improvement in relations. After Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to New Delhi, both sides announced steps to boost ties that would have been unthinkable just a year ago: reopening border trade routes, resuming direct flights, and exploring new frameworks for managing their disputed boundary.

The timing is not accidental. It coincides with Washington's hard turn against India, marked by steep tari...