Rising Bharat Summit 2026: 'No need for them to become enemies,' George Yeo says India–China choice will shape global peace

India–China ties key to peace

India and China must work together if Asia and the wider world is to avoid deeper instability, former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo said, describing their relationship as the defining geopolitical question of the century.

Speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Yeo said the world is going through a “very difficult phase”, but argued that there remains a genuine opportunity for peace and stability if the two Asian giants avoid sliding into rivalry.

“There is good chance of peace and stability,” he said, stressing that the key lies with India and China. Together, he noted, they account for nearly half of humanity and are the fastest-growing economic hub globally.

“There is danger — no need for them to become enemies,” Yeo said, adding that he was encouraged by recent improvements in bilateral ties. “I am glad to see the way relations are improving.”

Yeo placed the India–China dynamic within a longer-term global context, arguing that their economic trajectories will fundamentally reshape the international system.

By 2050, he projected, China is likely to become the world’s largest economy, while India could rank second or third. In that scenario, their “collective weight” would matter enormously in determining the direction of global governance.

“Our collective way matter,” he said, underscoring that the choices made by Beijing and New Delhi would not be confined to regional consequences. “The crucial thing is war and peace — not only in our region but around the world.”

Yeo said that at a time of intensifying geopolitical competition, India–China cooperation is a strategic necessity rather than an idealistic goal. According to him, the choice between competition and cooperation will determine whether the 21st century is shaped by conflict or stability.