New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared picture-perfect smiles in Tianjin last week, the West saw red, the rest of the world watched closely-and Indian social media had a field day.

The uneasy bonhomie unfolded against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump reminding the world that in a Trumpian order, good sense is scarce-and his will reigns supreme.

Speculation was rife about what Modi's visit-his first to China in seven years and his first in-person Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting after a long hiatus-would bring.

The key question was whether the visit would mark a reset or merely a recalibration in the often-troubled ...