Beijing on Thursday defended its purchases of Russian oil as “legitimate” and criticized what it called “unilateral bullying” by the United States, amid growing tensions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressuring countries to cut off oil imports from Russia, claiming that purchases by nations like China and India are effectively funding the war in Ukraine. Trump said Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would halt Russian oil imports, adding that he would seek a similar commitment from China. India, however, neither confirmed nor denied any shift in policy.
At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended Beijing’s actions, stating, “We maintain normal, legitimate economic, trade, and energy cooperation with countries around the world, including Russia. The actions of the United States are a typical example of unilateral bullying and economic coercion.”
Lin warned that if China’s interests were harmed, the country would “take firm countermeasures and resolutely safeguard its sovereignty.”
While China insists it is not a party to the Ukraine conflict, Kyiv and Western governments have repeatedly accused Beijing of providing both political and economic support to Moscow, fueling concerns over the impact of Chinese and Indian oil purchases on the ongoing war.
As the United States continues to push allies to cut ties with Russian energy, tensions between Washington and Beijing are showing no signs of easing, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play amid the war in Ukraine.