‘Silence only emboldens the bully', China slams US tariffs on India, vows support

New Delhi: China on Thursday strongly criticised the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, with Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong warning that remaining silent or yielding in such situations would only “encourage the bully.”

Xu emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is of major importance and that Beijing is placing significant weight on the trip.

Speaking at a conference, Xu described India and China as “twin engines” of Asia’s economic growth and urged both nations to defend fairness and stability in the global trading system, particularly under the WTO framework.

“The US has levied tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India and has even threatened further action. China is firmly opposed to this,” Xu said. “Compromise in the face of such measures only emboldens the aggressor. China stands with India to uphold multilateralism,” he added.

Ties between Washington and New Delhi have been strained after President Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports, including an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s import of Russian crude oil.

Xu also said that China is ready to expand imports of Indian products, noting India’s strengths in IT, software, and biomedicine, while China leads in manufacturing, infrastructure, and renewable energy.

At the event, titled “SCO Summit: Resetting India-China Relations”—organised by Chintan Research Foundation and Centre for Global India Insights—Xu stressed that border disputes should not define the overall bilateral relationship. He said progress on both border talks and cooperation must advance in parallel, adding that a “10-point consensus” was reached during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit.

Addressing India’s concerns over terrorism, Xu said Pakistan is also a “victim of terrorism” and called for joint efforts to fight the threat.

On US trade policies, the envoy accused Washington of using tariffs as leverage, despite long reaping the benefits of free trade. He said China and India should step up cooperation to safeguard the interests of developing countries and ensure fairness in global governance.

Xu also encouraged Indian companies to invest more in China, while expressing hope that India would provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

Speaking to reporters later, Xu said preparations are in full swing for Modi’s upcoming trip, calling it an event of significance not only for the SCO but also for bilateral ties. Modi is scheduled to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin on August 31–September 1.