Xi Jinping Sends Message to Trump: World Must Reject ‘Bullying, Cold War Mentality

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday criticised “bullying behaviour” in the international order as he opened the plenary session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

Addressing leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Xi urged member states to “adhere to fairness and justice and work together to oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behaviour.”

His remarks come against the backdrop of continuing tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. Despite a trade deal, US-China frictions persist following tariff battles that at one point saw levies exceed 100 percent.

The strain has also extended to India and Russia. Washington recently imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian oil imports from Russia, while Trump has pressed Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. The US president met his Russian counterpart in Alaska earlier this year, followed by talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington.

The SCO Summit, running from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin, brings together China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Sixteen additional countries participate as observers or dialogue partners.