China has reaffirmed its right to keep importing oil from Russia, brushing aside U.S. threats of new tariffs. The response comes after Washington recently penalized India for similar purchases.

Beijing’s foreign ministry said such trade is legal and part of its efforts to secure reliable energy supplies. Officials stressed that China will continue making decisions based on its own national interests.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at raising tariffs on Chinese goods over the imports, even as he pursues a possible peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He has also urged Russia’s major trade partners to support U.S. diplomatic efforts.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Trump’s envoy in Moscow for several hours. Trump later said there’s a good chance he might meet Putin soon, though no breakthrough has been reached.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also spoke with Putin for the first time in months, saying the Ukraine war is a complex problem without simple answers.

While some in Trump’s team like adviser Peter Navarro warn that higher tariffs could hurt the U.S. economy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the option remains possible.

Official data shows China’s imports from Russia rose slightly in July to over $10 billion, the highest since March. However, total imports this year are still down compared to 2024.

Trade relations between the U.S. and China have steadied under a tariff truce, which Trump says is close to being extended before it expires on Tuesday.