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China Monitor
The monitor features developments related to China during the month and is compiled by our research team of Amb. Biren Nanda, Senior Fellow, and Sanket Joshi, Research Associate, from open-source reports and publications.
The 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in Beijing on May 27, 2026. The two sides reviewed the situation in India-China border areas and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquillity.
On May 14-15, 2026, India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi. In his remarks, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of BRICS advancing reforms to promote a more inclusive, representative, and responsive global governance system. He stressed that “reform is not a choice, but a necessity”, so that multilateralism remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary global challenges.
China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, who attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, reiterated Beijing’s concerns about rising unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism, urging member-states to strengthen cooperation among countries of the Global South and advance global governance reforms.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump made a state visit to China from May 13-15, 2026. During their summit, on May 14, 2026, Presidents Xi and Trumpagreed on a new vision for a “constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability”. Xi noted that constructive strategic stability would prioritise cooperation, promote competition within certain limits, manage differences, and advance peace. He cautioned the U.S. that Taiwan remains the most critical issue in bilateral relations, and that a failure to handle this issue appropriately could lead to conflict between the two nations.
On May 17, 2026, China and the U.S. issued fact sheets elaborating on the key outcomes of the Xi-Trump Summit. The two sides have agreed to establish U.S.-China Boards of Trade and Investment, which aim to optimise the bilateral economic relationship. The U.S. has reportedly halted a proposed USD 14 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to China from May 19-20, 2026. China and Russia reiterated that the high-quality development of their partnership is a “strategic choice” and that the two countries must continue to enrich the substance of their cooperation. Chinese analysts observed that Beijing does not see a stable relationship with Moscow merely as leverage against the U.S., but rather views it as positive for global stability and peace.
China-Japan tensions over Taiwan continued. Chinese state media expressed concerns about the growing alignment between “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and the “neo-militarist right-wing forces” of Japan. China also warned the Philippines that its geographic proximity and a large diaspora population cannot be used as an excuse to interfere in the Taiwan issue.
On May 7, 2026, China’s military court announced suspended death sentences with a two-year reprieve for the country’s former Defence Ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, on corruption charges. The stringent action taken against the two ministers demonstrates that Beijing’s crackdown on corruption is deepening and that the “PLA must maintain absolute loyalty to the CPC’s leadership”.
To read this issue please click China Monitor, Vol. IX, Issue 5.
