Modi’s Decision and the Limits of Eurasian Coalition
GK & Current Affairs for CLAT | CLAT Current Affairs 2026
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Introduction
In September 2025, the geopolitical stage of Eurasia witnessed two significant moments: the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin and China’s military parade in Beijing commemorating the end of World War II. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit, he deliberately skipped China’s military parade.
This decision reflects more than just diplomatic scheduling. It symbolizes India’s careful balancing act in an increasingly polarized world, where China seeks to project its military dominance, Russia tries to rally Eurasian powers, and the US maintains its assertive global role. By staying away from Beijing’s spectacle of military might, Modi underscored the impracticality of an anti-US Eurasian coalition and highlighted India’s independent strategic positioning.
For CLAT Current Affairs 2026, this development is vital. It merges themes of international relations, law, diplomacy, and security studies. Aspirants preparing with the best online coaching for CLAT or via online coaching for CLAT must analyze such decisions beyond surface optics, connecting them with India’s long-term foreign policy strategies.
Why in News
- PM Modi attended the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where he was seen in a three-way handshake with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
- However, Modi skipped the Chinese military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
- China showcased the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Tiananmen Square, signaling its growing military power.
- Modi’s absence put India in line with Western allies (US, Japan, Australia) who also stayed away, reinforcing India’s distance from Beijing’s militaristic symbolism.
- The decision reflects India’s caution about joining any anti-US Eurasian coalition and highlights the fractures in Asia’s strategic unity.
Point-wise Summary of the Article
- The Viral Handshake at SCO Summit
- Modi, Xi, and Putin shared a symbolic handshake at Tianjin.
- Though significant in optics, analysts argue such gestures don’t equal real alliances.
- Skipping the Parade in Beijing
- Modi’s absence from China’s military parade was deliberate.
- Parade marked China’s World War II victory and featured PLA’s military display.
- India’s absence reinforced its distance from China’s militaristic assertions.
- Historical Context
- WWII ended with victors and defeated nations commemorating events differently.
- China’s version emphasizes anti-Japanese resistance.
- For India, the memory of WWII is tied to Partition, independence, and Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA).
- India’s Geopolitical Balancing
- Modi’s absence aligned India with US allies like Australia and Japan.
- India avoids being tied too closely to either a China-Russia bloc or the US bloc, maintaining strategic autonomy.
- Asia’s Divisions
- Asia remains divided along lines of nationalism, religion, and colonial memories.
- Different WWII legacies shape modern geopolitics in Asia.
- Countries like the Philippines recall Japanese occupation, while others remember struggles for independence.
- China’s Strategy
- By organizing the parade, China sought to assert itself as Asia’s leader.
- Slogans like “Asia for Asians” failed to resonate due to distrust among neighbors.
- India’s Caution
- India recognizes the impracticality of a united Eurasian coalition against the US.
- By skipping the parade, Modi reinforced India’s focus on sovereignty, independence, and balanced diplomacy.
Explanation of Peculiar Terms (Notes)
- SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation):
Eurasian intergovernmental body focused on security, economic, and political cooperation. - People’s Liberation Army (PLA):
China’s armed forces, often showcased in parades as a symbol of military strength. - Eurasian Coalition:
A hypothetical bloc of Eurasian powers (China, Russia, India, Central Asia) aligned against Western influence. - INA (Indian National Army):
Armed force led by Subhas Chandra Bose, allied with Japan during WWII to fight British colonial rule. - Asia for Asians:
A slogan promoted historically by Japan and later by China, suggesting that Asian countries should resist Western dominance.
CLAT-Oriented Analysis
- Relevance for CLAT Current Affairs 2026
- SCO, India-China relations, and global alliances are frequent CLAT topics.
- India’s decision-making in foreign policy highlights themes of strategic autonomy, which connect to international law and constitutional duties.
- Legal Perspective
- India’s participation in SCO aligns with Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, which advocates international peace and security.
- Avoiding the parade reflects India’s principle of non-alignment, historically rooted in Panchsheel and NAM (Non-Aligned Movement).
- Possible CLAT Questions
- Why did PM Modi skip the Chinese military parade in 2025?
- Which body hosted the summit where Modi, Xi, and Putin shook hands?
- What is the role of PLA in China’s global strategy?
- What does “Asia for Asians” signify in the geopolitical context?
- Strategic Implications
- India avoids being trapped in China-Russia vs. US-West rivalry.
- Skipping the parade distances India from China’s militaristic symbolism while keeping diplomatic engagement alive through SCO.
- Highlights India’s multi-alignment strategy: cooperating with diverse blocs while prioritizing national interest.
Conclusion
The contrast between Modi’s handshake at the SCO Summit and his absence from China’s military parade reveals India’s nuanced foreign policy. On the one hand, India engages actively with Eurasian platforms like SCO, reinforcing regional cooperation. On the other, it carefully distances itself from China’s attempts to militarize history and project hegemonic ambitions.
For CLAT Current Affairs 2026, this episode demonstrates how foreign policy decisions are more than symbolic—they shape global perceptions, alliances, and legal obligations. Students preparing with the best online coaching for CLAT or online coaching for CLAT must see beyond the optics and grasp the strategic, legal, and historical underpinnings of such choices.
India’s path forward lies not in rigid blocs but in strategic autonomy, enabling it to balance relations with the US, Russia, and China while safeguarding its national interests.
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