24 hours. First landing since 2019. First on Indian soil since Galwan.
Beijing: partners, record trade, cherish the progress.
Car sat, door not opened, staff still arguing, interpreter blocked, he walked in alone.
Then the health tape. In the hall he looked unwell. Modi stopped mid-speech: “Is it okay?” Xi nodded. That night he skipped the official dinner. Sources said fatigue and jet lag after a packed 24-hour sprint.
Chinese comments called it face — and asked what the face was hiding.
The rumor that rode with all of it: an RMB settlement deal India refused.
India’s actual line: de-dollarize, yes. Switch to the yuan, no. No BRICS common currency.
Opposing dollar hegemony is not accepting RMB hegemony.
De-dollarization ≠ RMB-ization.
Short visit. Awkward arrival. Unwell in the chair. Dinner no-show. Thin deliverables.