China has firmly rejected U.S. demands to stop importing oil from Russia and Iran, prioritizing its energy security and sovereignty despite threats of a 100% tariff from President Donald Trump. Following two days of trade talks in Stockholm ending August 1, China’s Foreign Ministry declared on X, “China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests. Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything.” China’s Stance and Strategic Interests China, the world’s largest oil importer, relies heavily on discounted Russian and Iranian crude. In April 2025, it imported over 1.3 million barrels per day of Russian oil, a 20% increase from the prior month, and 80-90% of Iran’s oil exports—over 1 million barrels daily—go to China....