China Seeks India's Support Against US Tariff Policies

China's Request for Assistance

In a bid to combat the economic policies of US President Donald Trump, China reached out to India for assistance. This request was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter addressed to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March 2025, details of which have recently emerged. A report from a prominent news outlet has revealed the contents of this confidential letter five months later.

According to the report, Xi Jinping outlined a comprehensive strategy in the letter on how to counter Trump's tariffs. He also emphasized the importance of improving bilateral relations between the two nations.

Key Individual Mentioned

In the correspondence, Xi referred to an individual who could play a crucial role in the agreement. However, the report did not disclose the identity of this person.

Context of the Request

As reported by Indian diplomats, at the time, China and the US were engaged in a tariff battle. Xi did not want to appear weak in this conflict, prompting him to directly contact India. He aimed to keep the matter under wraps, describing the US trade agreement as detrimental to China's interests. The tariff dispute had escalated to as high as 250 percent.

India's Response

The report indicated that India did not respond to Xi's secret letter until June 2025, maintaining silence on the issue. It was only after the conclusion of the trade war between the two countries that India reacted to China's initiative to mend relations.

Diplomatic Engagements

Following this, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited China, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to New Delhi.

Impact of Trump's Decisions

International analysts noted that Trump made two significant errors that led to the rapprochement between India and China. Firstly, he made controversial claims regarding the India-Pakistan ceasefire, which angered India. Shortly after, he announced a 50 percent tariff on India, straining the previously strong ties between the two nations.

The report concluded that due to these missteps, the US lost a long-standing ally in South Asia, resulting in renewed diplomatic discussions between India and China, with both countries now moving towards enhancing trade relations.