Message to Trump? China's Xi says world must oppose 'bullying, cold war mentality'

The Chinese president's remarks come amid tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump.

Updated on: Sep 1, 2025, 11:28:42 IST

By Danita Yadav

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday criticised "bullying behaviour" in the world order while opening the plenary session at the SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin, China.

In an apparent message to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on SCO members to oppose "bullying behaviour" and "cold war mentality" (AP)

In his address, the Chinese leader called on leaders at the SCO summit, including Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, to "adhere to fairness and justice and work together to oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behaviour".

Follow LIVE updates on the SCO Summit 2025 here

"Looking to the future, with the world undergoing turbulence and transformation, we must continue to follow the Shanghai spirit... and better perform the functions of the organisation," Xi added further.

India, Russia, China reunite amid tensions with US

The Chinese president's remarks come amid tensions with the United States led by President Donald Trump. Following his tariffs, China and the US saw themselves in a major trade conflict with levies exceeding the 100 percent mark.

While an agreement was reached between US and China, tensions continue to prevail and have no extended towards Russia and India. Trump recently targeted India with 50 percent tariffs over New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil during the Ukraine war.

Also Read | ‘Brahmins profiteering…’: Peter Navarro's latest take on India's Russian oil purchase

Following this tariffs, both Russia and China has opposed Trump's decision and referred to the imposition of the additional 25 percent levies on India as “bullying.”

In August, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India, during which Beijing called for expanded cooperation amid "overwhelming bullying" and severe challenges to free trade.

Furthermore, Trump has repeatedly called on Putin to establish a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. The US president also held a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Alaska, which was followed by a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Washington DC.

Meanwhile, the thaw in India and China's relations was in key focus at the SCO Summit. Speaking at the summit on Sunday, Xi Jinping stated it was vital that the “elephant and dragon” come together.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is being held in Tianjin, China. The two-day summit, which kicked off on August 31, comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus -- with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or "dialogue partners".

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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