For years, slogans like “Boycott China” have dominated public discourse amid political tensions and border disputes between India and China. Television debates and political narratives often create the impression that India is economically distancing itself from China. However, actual trade data presents a very different reality. Despite diplomatic tensions, trade between the two countries has continued to grow. In 2024, India imported nearly $126.96 billion worth of goods from China, while exports to China remained only around $14–18 billion. As a result, India’s trade deficit with China crossed $100 billion, highlighting the deep dependence of the Indian economy on Chinese manufacturing and supply chains. This dependence is visible across key sectors. India imports electrical machinery, electronics, industrial equipment, organic chemicals, plastics, and steel products from China. Mobile phone parts, laptops, solar panels, EV batteries, telecom equipment, pharmaceutical AP...