Putin’s Red Carpet Welcome in China: Xi Jinping Steals the Limelight Amid Trump’s Tariff War
On August 31, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin received a lavish red carpet welcome in Tianjin, China, as he arrived for a four-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the summit brought together leaders from over 20 nations, representing nearly half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP. The event, marked by high diplomacy and symbolic pageantry, showcased China’s growing influence as a global leader, while U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies cast a shadow over international relations.
A Grand Stage for Global South Solidarity
The SCO summit, held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, was billed as the organization’s largest gathering to date. With leaders from nations like India, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states in attendance, Xi positioned China as a stable counterweight to Western institutions, particularly in the face of Trump’s trade war. The choice of Tianjin, a port city with a history of colonial concessions, added symbolic weight, underscoring China’s narrative of overcoming historical humiliations to emerge as a global power.
Putin, arriving to banners in English, Russian, and Chinese, praised the Russia-China partnership as a “stabilizing force” for a “just, multipolar world order.” In a written interview with China’s Xinhua news agency, he emphasized the two nations’ shared vision to counter what they perceive as a U.S.-dominated global system. The red carpet welcome and Xi’s warm reception of Putin signaled a deepening of their strategic alliance, especially as both nations face Western sanctions and economic pressures.
Xi’s Diplomatic Triumph and Modi’s Presence
The summit wasn’t just a platform for Russia-China camaraderie. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending his first SCO summit since skipping last year’s event in Kazakhstan, added significant weight to Xi’s guest list. Modi’s presence, alongside Putin, highlighted a delicate balancing act for India, caught between its historical ties with Russia, its role in the U.S.-led Quad, and recent efforts to ease tensions with China after the 2020 border clashes. Xi’s warm handshake with Modi and their bilateral talks underscored China’s intent to strengthen ties with India, potentially complicating U.S. efforts to position New Delhi as a counterweight to Beijing.
Xi’s ability to host such a diverse group of leaders—autocrats, populists, and democrats alike—demonstrated China’s diplomatic clout. The summit’s optics, with Tianjin’s streets adorned with multilingual banners and traffic halted for VIP arrivals, were carefully crafted to project Beijing’s vision of Global South solidarity. Some leaders, including Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, were also slated to attend a military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end, further amplifying China’s role in global commemorations.
Trump’s Tariff War: A Catalyst for Unity?
The backdrop to this diplomatic spectacle was Trump’s escalating trade war, which has disrupted global markets and strained alliances. Since taking office, Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs, including a 25% duty on Indian imports and threats of up to 200% tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing restricts rare-earth mineral exports. His administration’s focus on punishing countries like India and China for purchasing Russian oil—while sparing China harsher penalties—has drawn criticism for inconsistency. This has pushed nations like India closer to China and Russia, as evidenced by Modi’s engagement with both Xi and Putin at the SCO summit.
Xi has capitalized on Trump’s erratic policies, positioning China as a reliable partner for nations wary of U.S. economic bullying. In a phone call with Putin earlier in August, Xi expressed support for a “long-term” solution to the Ukraine conflict, aligning with Russia’s resistance to Western pressure. Meanwhile, Trump’s threats of tariffs on Russian oil buyers have failed to deter China, the largest purchaser, which continues to bolster economic ties with Moscow. The SCO summit thus served as a platform for Xi to rally Global South nations against what he has called a “no-winners” tariff war.
Geopolitical Implications
The Tianjin summit underscores a shifting global order. While Trump’s tariffs aim to pressure adversaries and allies alike, they have inadvertently strengthened the Russia-China-India axis within the SCO and BRICS frameworks. Putin’s warm reception in China, coupled with Modi’s strategic engagement, signals a growing alignment among these powers to counter U.S. influence. For Putin, the summit offers a chance to break out of international isolation amid the Ukraine war, while Xi uses the event to project China as a diplomatic heavyweight capable of mediating global conflicts.
However, challenges remain. Russia-China trade, despite their “no-limits” partnership, has declined by 8.1% in 2025, with oil exports and Chinese vehicle imports to Russia dropping significantly. This suggests limits to their economic alignment, even as their political ties deepen. For India, navigating its strategic autonomy while balancing relations with the U.S., China, and Russia remains a delicate task, especially as Trump’s policies strain Indo-U.S. ties.
Conclusion
As Putin walked the red carpet in Tianjin and Xi hosted a constellation of global leaders, the SCO summit highlighted China’s rising influence amid Trump’s tariff-driven disruptions. The event, rich with symbolism and strategic undertones, showcased Xi’s ability to unite diverse nations under a banner of Global South solidarity. While Trump watches from afar, grappling with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling against his tariffs and faltering alliances, Xi’s diplomatic stagecraft has stolen the limelight, signaling a new phase in the global power struggle.
