“Not really. China and India have a long history of fraught relations and military clashes along their common border. And Trump’s strategy puts India and China in competition as to tariffs and much else.”
While that history is true, current history is also true and they have recently taken mutual steps to reduce the tension on their border, avoid further tension, increase their economic intercourse. All since Trump announced possible 50% tariffs on India for its Russian oil purchases and no similar tariffs announced for China. Indian nationalism was aroused, and China stepped up diplomatically to take advantage of that and start making amends with India, and India has responded positively.
Trump may think he’s playing a Nixon card with regard to China and Russia, but he’s also instigating China-India rapprochement.