U.S. President Donald Trump accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of conspiring against the U.S. by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing during a military parade.
China held one of its biggest-ever Victory Day military parades on Wednesday, celebrating the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan during World War II.
Highlights
- Trump accused Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim Jong Un of conspiring against the U.S. during their public meeting in Beijing.
- The Russian Kremlin denied any conspiracy against the U.S., stating that no such plans or thoughts exist among the three leaders.
- China's growing ties with Russia and North Korea challenge U.S. influence amid expanding military and trade cooperation.
- Saudi Arabia's expiration of its petrodollar agreement may lead to oil sales in multiple currencies, including the Chinese yuan, weakening the U.S. dollar.
Trump has previously downplayed concerns over China’s growing ties with Russia and other countries, but his Truth Social post on Wednesday suggests he may now be wary of a potential alliance among the three nations.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America,” he wrote.
Trump accused Xi Jinping of conspiring against the U.S. with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un
Image credits: Sergey Bobylev/Getty Images
He mentioned the “massive amount of support and ‘blood’” that the U.S. gave China to “help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.”
“Many Americans died in China's quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!” he continued.
Kremlin spokesperson Yuri Ushakov went on Russian state television and rejected the idea of a conspiracy against the U.S., saying Trump may have been ironic.
“I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies,” he said. “No one even had such a thought — none of these three leaders had such a thought.”
Image credits: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Ushakov also acknowledged the role played by Trump and the U.S. “in the current international situation.”
Twenty-six heads of state attended Wednesday’s military parade. Only a few European leaders, including Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia, were in attendance.
Trump’s disapproval of the meeting between the three leaders underscores the growing divide between the West and East, especially as China asserts its influence on the global stage.
Russia and North Korea, both heavily sanctioned internationally, rely on China: Russia depends on Beijing to purchase its oil and gas, while North Korea relies on it for food and basic supplies.
China is looking at ways to lessen its dependence on the American dollar
Image credits: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
China has strategically positioned itself as a more reliable trading partner, launching a charm offensive across Asian and European countries isolated by Trump’s tariffs.
It is also a significant threat to the U.S.’s decades-long petrodollar dominance, where the greenback serves as the reserve currency for international oil transactions.
As China increases its efforts to lessen its dependence on the American dollar, it has been discussing the possibility of pricing oil sales in Chinese yuan rather than dollars with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Recent rumors suggest that Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer and seller within OPEC, could move away from the American dollar.
An X post by BRICS News, an independent news media covering BRICS relations, cited an unverified source claiming Saudi Arabia could be selling oil in multiple currencies, including Chinese RMB, euros, yen, and yuan.
This would have a disastrous impact on the U.S. economy, causing the demand for the dollar to decrease and triggering rampant inflation.
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
In a recent interview with the BBC, Trump was asked if he believes China and its allies were attempting to form an international coalition opposing the U.S.
“No. Not at all. China needs us,” Trump said. “I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know. But China needs us much more than we need them. I don't see that at all.”
Trump further said on The Scott Jennings Show that he was not concerned about an axis forming between Russia and China.
“Believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do,” he told the radio host on Tuesday. He also said he was “very disappointed” in Putin for failing to reach a peace deal with Ukraine following their meeting in Alaska last month.
China has positioned itself as a counterweight to Trump’s tariffs
Image credits: Kremlin Press Office/Getty Images
The rejection from the West is another reason for Putin to seek closer diplomatic relations with China. While much of the West has sanctioned Putin over Russia’s war with Ukraine, China has abstained from voting against UN efforts to condemn Russia, while indirectly supporting Moscow through the provision of dual-use materials and continued purchases of Russian oil.
Bilateral trade between China and Russia has grown considerably since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with trade doubling in just four years.
Image credits: Mercator Institute for China Studies
The majority of trade includes Russia’s exports of fossil fuels and other natural resources, and China’s exports of manufactured goods such as vehicles and electronics.
The two countries have also increased joint military exercises since 2022, with the majority of those being naval and aerial drills and patrols. The frequency of these exercises has also increased.
North Korea, meanwhile, has provided Russia with weapons, including KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, that Ukraine identified as having been used to kill civilians in Kyiv.
Pyongyang also sent 15,000 troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine, according to South Korea. It was reported that North Korea received food, money and technical help in return.
“Your soldiers fought courageously and heroically,” the BBC quoted Putin telling Kim during talks on Wednesday. “I would like to note that we will never forget the sacrifices that your armed forces and the families of your servicemen have suffered.”
Last June, Putin and Kim signed an agreement in which Russia and North Korea promised mutual support if either nation faced acts of “aggression.”