China's govt mouthpiece urges closer Delhi-Beijing ties even as it calls India a "graveyard for foreign investment"

As speculations rise that Trump's punishing tariffs might end up driving traditional rivals India and China closer after years of acrimony, China's Global Times said in an op-ed that the two neighbouring Asian giants should look at "how to utilise each other's strengths" instead of crossing swords at frequent intervals.

According to the article, India and China share a long history of economic collaboration, with complementary markets that present opportunities for mutual growth. Rather than fostering a narrative of competition, both nations could benefit from harnessing their respective strengths to achieve shared developmental goals, it said.

It may be noted here that India and China are currently looking at finding a new idiom for their bilateral ties as Trump's tariffs have triggered a deep global reset, with businesses everywhere scrambling to adapt to new geopolitical realities.


There has been renewed engagement between the two sides, which is crucial as a stable partnership can yield significant benefits for both nations, promoting peace and development in the region, Global Times said.

To navigate the present challenges, it is essential for India to "improve trust, manage differences effectively and build consensus," the article said. By expanding avenues for cooperation, both India and China can work towards a more prosperous future, benefiting not just their own economies but also contributing positively to the global economic landscape, it added.

The article said that In recent times, some media narratives have framed the economic competition between India and China as a race for supremacy, adding that this perspective "oversimplifies a complex relationship that is deeply rooted in cooperation".

The China view on what ails India

The opinion piece in Global Times, widely considered a Chinese govt mouthpiece, also talked of India's diminishing foreign investment inflows. It said, citing Indian media reports, that in May 2025, India's net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows saw a staggering drop of 99% month-on-month and a 98% drop year-on-year.

Quoting these numbers, the article sought to highlight that there have been renewed discussions on India's economic climate and its ability to attract foreign investments.

A multitude of factors contribute to this pessimistic view of India's investment landscape, the article said. Citing Chen Lijun, a research fellow at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, the article said that achieving national economic success and modernisation is not a straightforward path.

Reaching the next level in development is going to take significant effort and India cannot rely solely on optimistic narratives or the mere relocation of industries from other nations, it said, in an apparent reference to India's official growth numbers and the Make in India programme.

Insisting that India has been branded as a "graveyard for foreign investment," the Global Times article said that this label stems from a "combination of the country's challenging business environment, policy inconsistencies and its current developmental stage".

The article highlighted that India grapples with "outdated technology, limited capital resources and insufficient infrastructure". These issues pose significant challenges for foreign companies looking to invest in the country, it added.

Global Times also sought to underline certain investment policies that it said have "compounded India's challenges, leading to a perception of it being a risky investment destination".