Abstract
At the 22nd SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting held on 25 June 2025 in Qingdao, China, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s unexpected refusal to sign the joint statement drew limited attention in Zhongnanhai’s Signals—China’s official sources, but sparked sharper reactions in China’s domestic online space. While state-run media downplayed the incident, Chinese-language platforms framed India’s move as a deliberate divergence. Online commentary, particularly in articles, digital media commentary and comment sections, revealed consistent grassroots disapproval, reflecting four recurring themes: distrust, exclusion, scepticism of Russia, and accusations of disruption. These responses offer insight into how India’s stance was perceived behind China’s firewall.
Notes: The “China Talkies” series offers analysis of China’s official responses, Chinese expert opinion, and public discourse in response to international developments.
