Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit that both nations must show sensitivity to each other’s core concerns, according to the Indian government. The statement was made by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who cited the Indian side’s position on the need for border peace and mutual respect. The meeting took place on September 12, 2025, as Xi visited India for the first time in seven years.

The Indian government’s readout of the meeting did not mention Tibet or Taiwan, unlike the Chinese readout, which stated that India’s position on these issues remains unchanged. India continues to recognize the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China, as per the 2003 Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation. The government also reiterated that it does not allow anti-China activities by Tibetans on its soil. However, the specific concerns raised by India during the meeting remain undisclosed.

The meeting occurred amid ongoing border tensions, including recent face-offs in the Taksing region of Arunachal Pradesh. India and China held their first military talks in the eastern sector on September 6 and 7. The Indian side emphasized that peace and tranquility in border areas are essential for advancing bilateral relations. The government also noted that both leaders welcomed the 'steady progress' in India-China relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025.

China’s readout of the meeting highlighted India’s unchanged stance on Tibet and Taiwan, and its refusal to allow anti-China activities on its territory. The Indian government did not elaborate on its concerns, though it acknowledged that issues such as Taiwan and Tibet were discussed. The spokesperson did not provide details on what specific concerns India raised, leaving the nature of the discussion unclear.

India maintains its One-China policy but has not publicly articulated it in years. The government asserts that its position on Taiwan remains unchanged, and it facilitates interactions in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, and education. However, the absence of a public statement on Tibet and Taiwan since 2009 has raised questions about the consistency of India’s approach to these issues.

The Indian government has not provided a response from China to the statements made during the meeting. The Chinese readout did not include any direct rebuttal or clarification on the Indian side’s remarks. The absence of a Chinese response leaves the nature of the discussion and the extent of mutual understanding between the two nations uncertain. The Indian government’s focus on border peace and mutual sensitivity suggests a desire to de-escalate tensions, but the lack of transparency on specific issues remains a point of concern.