Pakistan, Oct. 16 -- China on Thursday firmly defended its ongoing oil purchases from Russia, calling them "legitimate" and condemning the United States for what it described as "unilateral bullying" and "economic coercion." The sharp response came after US President Donald Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports and that Washington would pressure Beijing to do the same. Trump has repeatedly accused China and India of indirectly funding Russia's war in Ukraine through continued energy trade.

Beijing's foreign ministry quickly dismissed the remarks, asserting that its energy and trade cooperation with Moscow falls within the boundaries of international law. "The actions of the United S...