'Silence Emboldens The Bully': China 'Firmly' Backs India Against Trump’s Tariffs

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Thursday (21 August) voiced strong opposition to Washington’s latest tariff measures against New Delhi, framing Beijing as a partner in India’s trade dispute with the United States.

“The US has long benefited from free trade but now uses tariffs as bargaining chips. Silence only emboldens the bully,” Xu said in Delhi, adding that China “firmly opposes” the decision and “will firmly stand with India.”

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil and accusing it pf profeterring. This move raises the total duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50 per cent, among the highest levied on any US trading partner.

Xu urged “teamwork and collaboration” between Asia’s two largest economies, describing India and China as the “double engines of Asia” whose cooperation is vital for regional stability and growth.

The remarks follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in during his visit to Delhi on Wednesday.

Modi is also expected to travel to China later this year for the SCO leaders’ meeting, providing a platform for further engagement with President Xi Jinping despite the unresolved border standoff in eastern Ladakh.