'India’s sovereignty is non-negotiable': China backs Delhi as Trump threatens tariff hike

China has expressed rare public support for India amid rising U.S. trade pressure, signaling shifting global alliances. As Prime Minister Modi prepares for his first China visit since 2020, tensions with the U.S. over India's Russian oil imports escalate. President Trump criticized India’s trade policies, while India countered, accusing the West of hypocrisy. Beijing endorsed India’s sovereignty, aligning on resisting external interference. This diplomatic shift underscores India’s independent foreign policy and its balancing act between the U.S., Russia, and China amidst evolving global dynamics.

In a turn of events, China has publicly voiced support for India in the face of escalating trade tensions with the United States. This rare alignment between Beijing and New Delhi, often geopolitical rivals, hints at deeper strategic maneuvering as global power dynamics shift. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit—a significant meeting given that it will mark his first trip to the country since the Galwan Valley clash.

The backdrop to this development involves mounting pressure from the West, particularly the U.S., over India's continued energy trade with Russia. President Donald Trump, in a recent interview with CNBC, criticized India's reliance on Russian crude oil and issued a stern warning of sharply increasing tariffs on Indian exports. “India has not been a good trading partner,” Trump remarked, accusing New Delhi of benefiting disproportionately from its trade relationship with Washington.

Amid these tensions, China has stepped into the fray, offering a rare endorsement of India's position. The Chinese embassy in India cited a bold editorial from The Hindu that condemned Western attempts to influence India’s foreign policy. Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the embassy, shared the editorial on social media, emphasizing its assertion that “India’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.” The editorial argued that India’s foreign policy decisions should not be dictated by other nations, regardless of their strategic ties with New Delhi.

This public show of support from Beijing signals a notable shift. Both India and China have faced increasing hostility from the U.S. over trade policies, and this alignment could be seen as a strategic response to Washington's growing economic assertiveness. By backing India, China is subtly reinforcing the notion that nations in the Global South must resist external interference in their sovereign decisions.

India, on its part, has pushed back strongly against the U.S. criticism. In a statement issued earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs accused Washington and its European allies of hypocrisy, pointing out their own continued trade with Russia. The statement highlighted the U.S.’s imports of Russian uranium hexafluoride for nuclear energy, palladium for electric vehicles, and key agricultural products like fertilizers. “In this context, targeting India is both unjustified and unreasonable,” the ministry declared, signaling New Delhi’s refusal to bow to external pressure.

The Indian government emphasized that, unlike Western nations, India’s reliance on Russian oil is a “vital national necessity” stemming from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It further affirmed that India would “... safeguard its national interests and economic security.” This statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) marks the first definitive response on the matter since the Ukraine crisis began. Coupled with Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s remarks last week regarding the U.S.’s decision to impose 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods starting August 7, the MEA’s statement reflects New Delhi’s growing discontent with Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance on various issues, including immigration, trade talks, Operation Sindoor, Pakistan, and India’s BRICS membership.

Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to China adds further intrigue to the situation. The SCO Summit provides an opportunity for India and China to engage in dialogue after almost 5 years. This visit does send a message to Washington: India is not without diplomatic alternatives. New Delhi’s balancing act—maintaining strong ties with both the U.S. and Russia while carefully managing its relationship with China—reflects its pursuit of a truly independent foreign policy.

In the grander scheme, this development highlights the shifting landscape of global diplomacy. As nations like India and China push back against Western dominance, alliances are becoming more fluid, with traditional rivalries giving way to pragmatic partnerships. For India, the message is clear: its economic and strategic choices will not be dictated by external powers, and it remains committed to safeguarding its sovereignty in an increasingly polarized world.