Funding war against Ukraine? China defends right to buy Russian oil despite US tariff threats
China buys large amounts of Russian oil, financing the war in Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
China will not give up purchases of Russian oil despite US pressure and threats of new tariffs. Beijing considers buying oil from Russia its "legitimate" right, Bloomberg reports.
"It is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia. We will continue to adopt reasonable energy security measures in accordance with our national interests," the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
China's statement is related to the fact that US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the introduction of additional tariffs on Chinese goods. This would serve as punishment for Beijing for its active purchases of oil from Russia.
On the other hand, Trump's chief adviser Peter Navarro downplayed the likelihood of new tariffs against China, stating that they "may hurt the US." Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that anti-China tariffs "could be on the table at some point."
The publication notes that in July, Chinese imports from Russia amounted to just over 10 billion US dollars. Since the beginning of 2025, import volumes have fallen by 7.7% compared to the same period in 2024.
On August 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This happened on the eve of a possible meeting between Putin and Trump. Beijing welcomes the continuation of contacts between Russia and the United States and supports the Kremlin's position on Ukraine.
India was hit, China could be next
On August 6, Trump, by executive order, imposed an additional 25% tariff on India. The reason was India's continued purchases of Russian oil. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already responded to the tariffs, beginning to justify the necessity of buying Russian oil.
At the same time, Indian oil refineries urgently stopped purchasing Russian oil after the large-scale duties were introduced. Companies are now waiting for instructions from the Indian government. New Delhi has not officially announced a ban on buying oil from Russia.
