Xu said at a time of “hegemony, protectionism, power politics and bullying”, China and India have the responsibility to take the lead in promoting an “equal and orderly multipolar world”.

Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. The new rate will come into effect on 27 August. Delhi's increased imports of cheap Russian crude since the Ukraine war has caused a strain in its ties with the US and impacted negotiations on a trade deal.

Republican-leaning Fox News pointed out that the Indian public opinion looks at Donald Trump's tariffs as a threat to the country's sovereignty

The Chinese envoy to India goaded New Delhi to take on US President Trump, saying "silence only emboldens the bully". While China threatened the US with reciprocal tariffs, India has taken a more nuanced diplomatic approach.

Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said that the US had long benefited from free trade but was now using tariffs as bargaining chips. He stated that the US had imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and that China firmly opposed it.

Ties between India and China, strained since the deadly 2020 Galwan clash, have shifted rapidly amid US President Donald Trump's tariff offensive. Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods after trade talks stalled following ...