China vows to "stand firmly by India" in trade war with the US

China has expressed support for India in connection with the high US duties on Indian exports. This was announced by Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong during a speech in New Delhi, writes Bloomberg.

"The United States has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods and is even threatening even higher ones. China strongly opposes this. China will stand firmly by India's side to support the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core," the diplomat said.

Xu criticized Washington for using tariffs as a "bargaining chip to demand excessively high prices from different countries," despite the fact that it itself benefits from free trade.

"In response to such actions, silence or compromise only emboldens the aggressor," he emphasized.

Xu added that the countries of the Global South are "very interested" in the fact that the two Asian countries can "take the lead to help developing countries overcome difficulties."

His comments came amid attempts by Beijing and New Delhi to improve relations, which have remained tense over border disputes.

This week, the two countries agreed to consider the issue of border demarcation during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India for the first time in three years.

• On August 6, US President Donald Trump signed a decree introducing penalties against India for purchases of Russian oil.
• India announces additional 25% duty on Russian oil unfair, unreasonable and irrational and promised to protect its interests.