China has voiced opposition to the use of “economic pressure” after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested imposing tariffs on buyers of Russian oil. The proposal, aimed at cutting off Moscow’s funding for its war in Ukraine, would extend tariffs to countries such as China and India if the European Union adopts similar measures. During talks with EU officials, Trump discussed the possibility of tariffs ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent, according to a U.S. official.
In response, China’s ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that China firmly opposes being dragged into the issue and the imposition of economic pressure. Beijing maintains that it is neither the creator nor a party to the crisis. While China and Russia are key trading partners, China has not denounced Russia’s war or called for the withdrawal of its troops. Instead, it claims a neutral stance, regularly urging an end to the fighting and accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.
The relationship between the two nations was recently described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as being at an “unprecedented level” during talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. This underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, as China balances its trade ties with Russia against its public calls for peace. As the U.S. and EU consider further economic measures against Russia, China’s position is likely to face increasing scrutiny, and the implications of potential tariffs on Russian oil buyers, including China and India, will be closely watched in the coming days.
Comments are closed for this story.