 "'Have cards that can destroy China, but...': Trump's veiled threat at Beijing as he hosts South Korea's Lee")
US President Donald Trump on Monday praised America’s ties with China, saying from the Oval Office — alongside South Korean President Lee Jae Myung — that Washington would maintain a “great relationship” with Beijing, even as he warned the US held powerful cards that could “destroy China” if played.
“We are going to have a great relationship with China… They have some cards. We have incredible cards, but I don’t want to play those cards. If I play those cards, that would destroy China. I am not going to play those cards,” Trump said.
Trump says he can ‘DESTROY CHINA’
— RT (@RT_com) August 25, 2025
But adds: ‘I’m NOT going to play those cards’
Is it really that easy to take down the world’s second-largest economy? pic.twitter.com/zKZcPoRD1f
The tariff penalty on Indian goods, set to take effect on August 27, was announced after India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. In his executive order, Trump wrote, “I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil.”
India strongly objected, arguing it was being unfairly singled out for practices that “several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.”
Despite China being the largest buyer of Russian oil, Trump has refrained from imposing similar measures on Beijing. Instead, the White House extended China’s tariff deadline, originally set for August 12, by another 90 days. Currently, the US levies 20 per cent fentanyl-related duties on Chinese goods in addition to a 10% base rate, taking the overall tariff to 30 per cent.
Defending the softer approach toward Beijing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China’s oil purchases from Russia were “suboptimal,” stopping short of calling for penalties.
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