Secret Xi Letter Revived India Ties After Trump Tariff Barrage

Back in March, when US President Donald Trump was ratcheting up his trade war with China, Beijing began a steady and quiet outreach to India.

President Xi Jinping wrote a letter to Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu — who is primarily a figurehead — to test the waters on improving ties, according to an Indian official familiar with the matter. The letter expressed concern about any US deals that would harm China’s interests and named a provincial official who would steer Beijing’s efforts, the person said, adding that the message was sent across to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It wasn’t ...