Summary
- Trump rejects that China-Russia alliance threatens U.S.
- Claims China "needs us more than we need them."
- Says the U.S. military remains strongest globally by far.
- Expresses disappointment in Putin over Ukraine peace talks.
China "needs us more than we need them," the US president told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he and President Xi Jinping had "a good relationship."
It occurs as Xi gets ready to welcome foreign leaders to Beijing on Wednesday for a "Victory Day" parade that will highlight China's military prowess.
Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un will accompany Xi, which some analysts see as a message to the Western countries that have rejected them.
Since Trump's tariffs upended the international political and economic order, China has attempted to establish itself as a potential counterbalance to the US.
Trump has said that his tariffs are necessary to safeguard American business and interests.
Asked by the BBC if he believed Beijing and its allies were attempting to form an international coalition to oppose the US, Trump said:
"No. Not at all. China needs us."
He added:
"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."
Separately, Trump stated in a Tuesday radio interview that he was unconcerned about the formation of an axis between China and Russia.
He claimed that America possesses "the most powerful military forces in the world" and that "they would never use their military forces against us" on the Scott Jennings radio show.
Trump added in the interview that he was "very disappointed" in Putin since they were unable to come to an agreement on a peace settlement for Ukraine during their December summit in Alaska.
"I'm very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that,"
Trump said, adding that the US "will be doing something to help people live" in Ukraine. He did not specify.
China has not criticised Putin's full-scale invasion and has been accused by the West of aiding Russia's war effort through its supply of dual-use materials and purchases of Russian oil. Beijing denies this.
How did Trump justify saying China needs the US more than vice versa?
The U.S. remains the largest consumer market globally, and China heavily relies on American consumers to buy its exports. Trump argued this gives the U.S. leverage because China depends on access to the vast U.S. market for economic growth.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted the large U.S. trade deficit with China, asserting that unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and forced technology transfers cost the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually. He views these issues as China benefiting disproportionately from economic ties.
From his perspective, despite China’s manufacturing might and export dominance, the Chinese economy is reliant on the U.S. for investment, technology, and consumption.