US, Sept. 28 -- For years, Washington and Beijing seemed to be travelling on two trains racing towards a collision. Now, at least temporarily, the brakes have been applied. Donald Trump's warm engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington marks a noticeable change in the atmosphere between the world's two largest powers. The old language of confrontation is giving way to bargaining, negotiation and calculated accommodation.

For India, this changing landscape carries an important message. New Delhi cannot build its foreign policy on the assumption that America and China will remain permanent adversaries. If Trump moves closer to Xi, even for economic or strategic reasons, India will have to carefully protect its own interest...