【By Observer News, Yuan Jiaqi】
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit has just concluded in Tianjin. This is the fifth time China has hosted the SCO summit and also the largest one since the establishment of the SCO.
The harmonious and cooperative atmosphere at the summit has once again caused anxiety among U.S. media. The Wall Street Journal on the 1st cited analysts' views, pointing out that while Trump attempts to curb China and dismantle the ties between Russia and China, and pressure India to abandon its purchase of Russian oil, leaders from multiple countries appeared together at the SCO summit, clearly pledging to deepen cooperation. This show of unity sends a strong message to Washington, which is an indirect response to Trump's foreign policy and highlights the difficulties of his unconventional diplomatic strategies in international affairs.
The report believes that although many issues remain unresolved, this summit indicates that the U.S. efforts to reshape the world order are facing numerous challenges.
Michael Fullilove, director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia, said that the amicable atmosphere of the Tianjin summit "will sound a warning bell for the West."
"President Trump's moderate attitude towards (Russian President) Putin did not help Russia distance itself from China," he said, "on the contrary, his tough stance towards (Indian Prime Minister) Modi is pushing India closer to Russia while warming up relations with China."
In February this year, Trump met with Modi at the White House. Visual China
The U.S. media mentioned that India was seen as the core of the U.S. strategy to block "China's dominance in Asia". Since the serious border clashes between China and India in 2020, the two countries have continued to have tense relations. However, Trump suddenly imposed a total tariff of up to 50% on India for its purchase of Russian oil, causing widespread dissatisfaction in India. Afterward, Modi embarked on his first visit to China in seven years.
Moreover, the statements made by officials of the Trump administration further intensified Indian dissatisfaction. Recently, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro criticized India for buying oil from Moscow at a discount and then selling it to buyers in Europe and other regions. Navarro called India "a laundry for the Kremlin" and criticized the Indian elite for making profits at the expense of the Indian people. These remarks triggered strong protests in Indian society.
Kabir Taneja, deputy director of the New Delhi think tank "Observer Research Foundation", said that the Tianjin summit marks the "resumption" of Sino-Indian relations and also sends a clear message to Washington: India values its own strategic autonomy.
He said, "There is no sign of concession from Washington, and any Indian prime minister cannot ignore public opinion. This means India must face America and tell them we will not be intimidated."
However, Taneja also believed that the current Sino-U.S. friction is an "exceptional situation" caused by Trump's "capricious policies", and in the long run, it will not lead India to move away from the United States strategically.
While agreeing with this view, Professor Shi Yinhuang from the School of International Relations at Renmin University emphasized, "Trump has largely pushed the stabilization of Sino-Indian relations. Although this relationship is currently only at the 'stabilization' level, it is a huge improvement compared to the worst period."
The U.S. media also noted that under Trump's "stick" approach, Modi and Putin took a car together to the bilateral meeting after the 25th Session of the Heads of State Council. After the meeting, Modi posted that the talks were "fruitful" and looked forward to Putin's visit to India in December.
"Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always stood side by side," Modi said.
At the same time, Russian President's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev posted a video on social media showing Putin interacting with leaders from multiple countries in Tianjin and sarcastically commented, "The 'isolated Russia'? No one remembers the 'loser (former U.S. president) Biden' now."
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that this trip is Putin's first foreign visit since his meeting with Trump in Alaska on August 15. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is being criticized domestically and by European allies for the "high-level reception" of Putin.
U.S. government officials tried to call this part of what they called a "reverse Kissinger strategy," an attempt to disrupt the Sino-Russian relationship and "ally with Russia against China."
"But the 'reverse Kissinger' is no longer working," said Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament. "India's alignment with China and Russia, even if partial or pragmatic, will strengthen the new world order led by China and compress the strategic space of the United States and its Asian allies."
According to reports from The Hindu and Reuters, under Trump's trade pressure, Modi publicly showed solidarity with Chinese and Russian leaders. And just after his visit to China, Trump issued a new threat.
On September 1st local time, Trump posted on the "Truth Social" platform attacking India, accusing it of being "completely unilateral" in trade issues with the U.S. and purchasing large amounts of energy and military equipment from Russia.
Trump emphasized, "They proposed to reduce tariffs to zero, but it's too late. They should have done it years ago."
Bloomberg reported that it is unclear when India proposed this and whether the White House plans to restart trade negotiations with India. Due to non-business hours, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment, nor did the White House immediately respond. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative also did not respond immediately.
Xie Chao, vice-researcher at the South Asia Research Center of Fudan University, analyzed for Observer News that the current Trump administration has broken the previous one-sided strategy of luring India, because they believe that India has the intention to get closer to China. From the perspective of intention and strength, India is not the ideal partner for the U.S. Even if the U.S. strategic community still doubts the change of the U.S. policy towards India, the Trump administration will not change its position in the short term.
Regarding Trump's latest threats, Indian media reacted consistently, linking them to Modi's visit to China.
New Delhi Television (NDTV) stated that Trump's post was published after the friendly scene of the SCO summit. The scene of the leaders of China, Russia, and India smiling and shaking hands is seen as a strong message to the U.S.—the SCO will unite to oppose tariffs.
Reuters stated that the Tianjin summit brought together leaders from more than 20 non-Western countries, "driven by Trump's global tariff offensive, (the organization) is gaining new momentum."
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