[The Editors' Verdict] The Dragon and the Elephant Dance as the Eagle Runs Amok

The Spread of "Anti-Trump" Sentiment Amid Tariff Pressure
US Diplomacy Criticized as China and India Strengthen Ties

In Hinduism, the predominant religion of India, elephants symbolize wisdom and good fortune. The Indian elephant is classified as a subspecies of the Asian elephant, which is why India is often referred to as the "elephant" in the international community.

China is known as the land of the dragon. The dragon is revered as an auspicious creature, believed to possess supernatural powers to summon rain and storms. China aspires to become not a real-life panda, but an imagined dragon. In contrast, in the West, dragons are generally seen as evil beings-greedy, cruel, and harmful to humans.

On August 31, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Tianjin, China. This was Prime Minister Modi's first visit to China in seven years since 2018. Although China and India had maintained a chilly relationship following a military clash in the Himalayan border region in 2020, the two countries have been strengthening their cooperation since the inauguration of the second Trump administration in the United States earlier this year.

On this day, President Xi and Prime Minister Modi both emphasized that China and India are "partners," not "rivals." In particular, Prime Minister Modi stated, "The relationship between India and China is not influenced by any third party," and stressed that "the two countries will join hands to strengthen the power of multilateralism." His remarks appeared to be aimed at the United States, which had viewed the growing closeness between China and India with concern. The "bromance" between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, who once called each other "true friends," has completely fallen apart since the "tariff bomb." It is reported that President Trump made several attempts to call Modi for trade agreements and other matters, but Prime Minister Modi did not respond.

Previously, in a message celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with India in April, Xi Jinping stated, "It is the right choice for our two countries to become friends and partners of good-neighborly relations and realize the 'Dance of the Dragon and Elephant' (Yongsanggongmu)." Since then, many have assessed that President Trump's high tariffs and diplomatic pressure have served as a catalyst for reconciliation between India and China.

India is not the only country that has aligned itself with Russia and China to form an "anti-Trump" front. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, also said during a call with Prime Minister Modi that the two countries should jointly respond to the Trump administration's tariff policies. Brazil, which is subject to the same 50% tariff as India, is now on high alert. As the world's leading coffee producer, Brazil produces 67 to 68 million bags of coffee per year, accounting for a 39% share of the global market as of 2023. Brazil has about 300,000 coffee farms, 75% of which are small-scale operations. If the United States significantly reduces or suspends imports of Brazilian coffee due to rising prices, Brazilian coffee farmers will inevitably suffer enormous losses.

In response, China has taken the unusual step of dramatically increasing its imports of Brazilian coffee, stepping in as a "relief pitcher." The Chinese Embassy in Brazil announced that it had approved transactions with 183 Brazilian coffee exporters, and that this measure would be valid for five years. China intends to import Brazilian coffee, which is expected to face export difficulties to the United States. In preparation for a tariff war with the United States, China also plans to import large quantities of soybeans from Brazil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has emphasized the establishment of a "fair multipolar world order," is also working to strengthen ties with China and India. China and India are the main buyers of Russian crude oil. The bear is watching the tango of the dragon and the elephant with satisfaction.

This is why Mel Gurtov, professor emeritus of political science at Portland State University, pointed out that "Trump is playing a loser's game." In reality, while President Trump alternates between "bluffing" and "raising" in international diplomacy as if playing a card game, the "anti-Trump" front is expanding around the world. Does President Trump really hold the joker? The spelling of President Trump and the Trump card is the same.