China has issued a warning to its trading partners, urging them not to bow to U.S. pressure to isolate Beijing. The statement comes amid President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff campaign and what China sees as efforts to manipulate global trade relationships.
Responding to reports that the U.S. is offering tariff exemptions in exchange for limiting trade with China, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry issued a sharp rebuke.
“Appeasement does not bring peace, and compromise does not earn respect. Seeking temporary self-interest at the expense of others— in exchange for so-called exemptions— is like asking a tiger for its skin. In the end, it will achieve nothing and harm both others and oneself,” the spokesperson said Monday.
China firmly opposes any trade deals that negatively impact its interests and warns that Beijing will “resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures” if such agreements materialize.
Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Push vs. Trump’s Tariff Strategy
The warning follows Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent tour of Southeast Asia, where he portrayed China as a reliable advocate of global trade. His visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia focused on strengthening economic ties and presenting Beijing as a stable partner.
Meanwhile, global markets remain unsettled as rising tariffs disrupt supply chains. Trump’s administration recently raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, while China retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods. China also restricted American firms and returned Boeing aircraft meant for Chinese carriers.
The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. officials are pushing other nations to curb trade with China. The effort includes discouraging transit hubs for Chinese goods, blocking Chinese companies from setting up operations, and preventing inexpensive Chinese products from entering certain markets.
Beijing, aiming to counter the uncertainty, has ramped up diplomatic efforts, reaching out to Japan, South Korea, and the European Union for closer economic cooperation. However, many nations remain cautious, fearing retaliation from Washington or an influx of diverted Chinese goods.
Security Concerns and Regional Tensions
Despite Xi’s diplomatic outreach, concerns persist over China’s regional actions. Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, notes that while nations consider deeper trade ties with China, many remain wary.
“For many of these countries, even when China is a larger trading partner, the United States is often a much larger export market. So they have significant stakes with the U.S. economy as well,” she said.
She also referenced China’s ongoing military activities, including live-fire drills near Australia and New Zealand, tensions with Taiwan, South China Sea disputes, and conflicts over the Senkaku Islands.
“They’re not stepping back in terms of their security ambitions even as they’re trying to promote themselves as a stabilizing economic force,” Economy added.
“That charm offensive needs to be more all-embracing if Xi Jinping is actually going to realize the kinds of benefits that he wants from what President Trump is doing.”
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