‘Who will replace whom?’: China dismisses rivalry talk, calls for reset with India amid Trump’s tariff blitz

As Donald Trump's tariff blitz targets both India and China, Beijing has made a fresh overture to New Delhi, calling for deeper cooperation and a reset in ties. The call comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting could mark a major diplomatic push to stabilise a relationship that has long been marred by border tensions and strategic mistrust.

In a post on X, Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, criticised the Western media’s "who will replace whom" narrative between India and China as lacking substance. She instead emphasised the need for trust, dialogue, and cooperation between the two Asian giants. “In today’s complex landscape, it makes far more sense for both nations to deepen trust, manage disagreements, foster consensus, widen cooperation, and promote peace in Asia and globally,” she wrote.

Share with you an article @globaltimesnews. Western media create narrative of "who will replace whom" between #China and #India, which has little substantive value. In today's complex landscape, it makes far more sense for both nations to deepen trust, manage disagreements,… pic.twitter.com/W0CUcX9FRL

— Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) August 7, 2025

Yu also shared a Global Times article reinforcing the message. The article accused some Western and Indian media of framing India’s economic rise as a race to surpass China, calling it a “rhetorical trap” that undermines both nations’ broader interests. It said China values its trade relationship with India and called for “win-win outcomes” through practical cooperation and shared development.

The statement comes as both nations mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Beijing claims the relationship is emerging from a “low point” and notes signs of steady improvement this year. As Trump’s aggressive trade policy reshapes global alignments, China appears eager to find common ground with India, not just to counter US pressure, but also to reposition Asia’s two largest economies as partners, not rivals.

Yu Jing on Tuesday endorsed an editorial from The Hindu that sharply criticized US and European pressure, emphasising that “India’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.”

She quoted the editorial on X, quoting its declaration that India’s “foreign policy choices cannot be manipulated by other countries, no matter how significant their own ties with India are.” The move signals rare diplomatic alignment between Beijing and New Delhi at a time when both are grappling with rising US trade hostility.

The remarks come as Trump, in addition to the 25 per cent tariff announced last week, imposed another 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi on Wednesday for purchasing Russian oil. He also signalled that Beijing could face similar tariffs for its purchase of Russian oil.