“Let Us Make Elephant, Dragon Dance”: China Calls for Stronger Ties With India Amid US Tariff War

Chinese Foreign Minister urges cooperation with India, as Beijing and Washington escalate trade tensions with retaliatory tariffs

March 7, 2025: “Let Us Make Elephant, Dragon Dance”: China Calls for Stronger India Ties Amid US Tariff War

Chinese Foreign Minister urges New Delhi to collaborate, as Beijing and Washington escalate trade war.

New Delhi: As the US-China trade war intensifies, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for closer cooperation between India and China, emphasizing that collaboration between Asia’s two largest economies is the “only right choice”.

The statement comes after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, triggering a strong response from Beijing and further escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

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China’s Appeal to India

Speaking after a session at China’s National People’s Congress, Wang Yi stressed that India and China should:

• “Support, instead of wearing each other down”
• “Strengthen cooperation, instead of guarding against each other”

“If we work together, the democratization of international relations and strengthening of the ‘Global South’ will have a brighter future,” he added.

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While India has not officially responded to Wang’s remarks, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar recently stated that the Indian government is working towards a “more predictable and positive course” in relations with China. He also mentioned resuming pilgrimages to Chinese-controlled sites, direct flights, and journalist exchanges as part of the engagement strategy.

China’s Diplomatic Push Amid Border Disputes

Addressing India-China border tensions, Wang Yi noted that the Ladakh military disengagement in Depsang and Demchok was a “positive stride”.

He also stressed that bilateral ties should not be solely defined by the boundary dispute.

The remarks follow the Modi-Xi meeting in Russia’s Kazan last year, which signaled an attempt at diplomatic engagement.

US-China Trade War Escalates

The call for India-China cooperation comes amid escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

• Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese imports (raised from 10% to 20%) were imposed due to China’s alleged failure to control fentanyl exports, which the US blames for its opioid crisis.
• China retaliated within 24 hours, imposing up to 15% levies on US agricultural products like soybeans, pork, and wheat.
• Beijing also filed a complaint with the WTO, calling the US tariffs a “serious violation of trade rules.”

A statement from the Chinese embassy in the US warned:
“If war is what the US wants… be it tariff, trade, or any other type, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

Trump’s Tariff Stance on India

While China faces direct tariff hikes, India is also under Trump’s scrutiny.

• Trump has labeled India a “high tariff nation” and criticized its trade policies.
• In February 2025, he announced 25% tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum imports, calling them a “very unfair” practice.
• This move triggered a 1,000-point drop in the Sensex, reflecting market jitters over trade tensions.

The Bigger Picture

With the US imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, India, and China, global markets are reacting with uncertainty.

Meanwhile, China’s attempts to strengthen ties with India appear to be part of a broader strategy to counterbalance US economic pressure.

As geopolitical shifts continue, India finds itself in a pivotal position between two superpowers, with strategic choices that could shape global trade and political alliances in the coming years.

Tags:

#ChinaIndiaRelations, #USChinaTradeWar, #DonaldTrump, #GlobalEconomy, #TariffWar, #ForeignPolicy, #IndiaChinaTies, #WTO, #TradeTensions, #Geopolitics