The world isn’t oblivious to the ongoing tariff war between the United States and India. After Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, taking the total tariff to 50%, China’s daily tabloid, the Global Times has shown its vocal support towards India in an article published on Wednesday.
‘India only an item on the menu’: Chinese media
In the article titled ‘India’s strategic balancing hits the wall of US unilateral hegemony’, the tabloid argued that India is being punished not for buying Russian oil, but for not doing what the US wants. It suggested that the US only considers India a close partner as long as it follows American interests. The moment India takes an independent stand, it becomes less valuable to the US. The piece also hinted that, in America’s eyes, India may never have been treated as an equal partner, just someone to use when convenient. “Perhaps, to the US, India may have never been a guest at the table – only an item on the menu,” the article read.
The article went on to say that in recent years, India has tried to keep a balance in geopolitics. It joined groups like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which support a world with more than one powerful country. At the same time, India also built strong security ties with the US, Japan, and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region. This approach gave India room to move diplomatically and work with different sides.
However, it adds that this strategy is now hitting a hard reality because of the United States’ firm belief in staying the world’s top power. It warns of a worrying trend: as the US brings back Cold War-style group rivalries, “not taking a side” is equated with “picking the wrong side,” and “neutrality” is seen as “disloyal.”
US vs India: Chinese tabloid asks ‘what next?’
Considering the open clash between US control over the global economy and India’s wish to make its own decisions, the tabloid raised an important question – what next?
It states that at the very least, some Indians are now beginning to realise that what they thought was a strong partnership with the US may have only been one-sided and that they are starting to see that trusting a powerful country that uses pressure and threats instead of open discussion will not lead to real security or growth.
The real opportunity, the article says, lies in India staying firm on its own path and supporting a world where power is shared more equally, based on mutual respect, fair benefits, and cooperation that helps everyone.