As the United States imposes a 50% tariff on Indian goods, drawing criticism from Indian leaders and businesses alike, Chinese state media has surprisingly come out in support of India, warning that Washington’s pressure tactics reflect an unequal partnership.
An article published by China’s Global Times, titled “India’s Strategic Balancing Hits the Wall of US Unilateral Hegemony”, sharply criticised the US administration under President Donald Trump for using economic coercion to punish India over its independent foreign policy stance — especially its continued purchase of Russian oil.
India ‘Was Never a Guest at the Table’
The editorial made a striking comparison, stating:
“To the US, India may have never been a guest at the table — only an item on the menu.”
It accused the United States of treating India as a junior partner, rather than an equal ally, noting that India’s independent decisions — such as maintaining ties with Russia — are met with punishment rather than diplomacy.
The Global Times editorial observed that India has long walked a diplomatic tightrope, participating in both Western and non-Western alliances. It cited India’s dual participation in Quad (with the US, Japan, Australia) and BRICS/SCO (with China and Russia) as evidence of its strategic balancing act.
However, it warned that America’s return to Cold War-era tactics now sees neutrality as betrayal:
“Not taking a side is equated with picking the wrong side… neutrality is seen as disloyalty.”
India at a Crossroads: ‘What Next?’
The article posed a critical question for Indian policymakers: “What next?”
It argued that some in India are beginning to realise that their partnership with the US may have always been one-sided, driven more by American interests than by mutual respect.
In a striking note of encouragement, the Chinese tabloid urged India to “stay firm on its own path” and back a multipolar world — one based on mutual respect, shared power, and equal cooperation.
Last week, President Trump signed an executive order imposing sweeping new tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on goods from over 70 countries, including key allies such as India, Japan, the EU, and Brazil. The White House justified the move as a measure to punish nations dealing with Russia, especially those buying discounted Russian oil — a category that includes India and China.
Indian Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the tariffs a “foreign policy disaster,” accusing the Modi government of failing to pre-empt or counter the blow. The added 25% tariff — on top of the existing 25% — affects a wide range of Indian exports including textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, electronics, and gems & jewellery.
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