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China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, has sharply criticised Washington’s recent tariff hike on Indian goods, declaring that Beijing “firmly opposes” the United States’ measures and calling for stronger collaboration between New Delhi and Beijing.
Speaking at an event in the Indian capital on Thursday, Xu described the United States as a “bully,” accusing it of exploiting the global trade system for its own gain. He noted that while the US had long profited from free trade, it is now leveraging tariffs as a “bargaining chip” to extract “exorbitant prices” from other nations.
“The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and even threatened further action. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully,” Xu stated, making Beijing’s stance clear.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump introduced a fresh 25% tariff penalty on Indian imports, adding to existing 25% tariffs already imposed on India for its continued purchases of oil and weapons from Russia. The combined rate is set to take effect on 27 August. New Delhi’s decision to increase imports of discounted Russian crude oil since the onset of the war in Ukraine has created friction in its ties with Washington, also complicating negotiations on a potential trade agreement.
India, however, has defended its energy trade with Russia. Officials argue that as a nation heavily reliant on energy imports, India must prioritise affordability to shield millions of its citizens from rising fuel prices. Indian authorities have also pointed out that the Biden administration had previously encouraged India to buy Russian oil to help stabilise global energy markets.
Amid growing tensions in trade with the US, relations between India and China appear to be warming after a period of strain.
Diplomatic ties between the two Asian powers had significantly deteriorated following the deadly border clashes in Galwan, Ladakh in 2020. But in recent months, both countries have taken steps to restore and normalise their relationship.
Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a two-day visit to New Delhi. During the trip, he said that India and China should regard one another as “partners” rather than “adversaries or threats”.
Ambassador Xu echoed those sentiments in his remarks on Thursday, describing India and China as the “double engines” driving economic growth in Asia. He emphasised that closer cooperation between the two nations would serve not only regional interests but also benefit the global community.
He further invited Indian companies to invest in China, while urging New Delhi to provide a “fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment” for Chinese enterprises operating in India, arguing that mutual economic benefits would accrue to both countries’ populations.
Xu warned that global economic and trade systems are currently being destabilised by protectionism. “Tariff wars and trade wars are disrupting the global economic and trade system. Power politics and the law of the jungle are becoming more common, and international rules and order have suffered severe impacts,” he said, directly referencing US policies without naming Washington explicitly.
He assured that China would stand firmly with India in defending the multilateral trading system anchored by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The ambassador also pointed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He expressed confidence that Modi’s attendance would inject “new impetus” into the relationship between India and China.
