Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday warned that Beijing will continue to retaliate against what he described as the United States’ “arbitrary tariffs,” accusing Washington of responding to goodwill with hostility. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary session, Wang said US policies were straining ties between the two countries.
He criticised Washington for imposing punitive tariffs despite China’s efforts to help combat America’s fentanyl crisis.
“No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain a good relationship with China at the same time,” Wang said. “Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of bilateral relations or for building mutual trust.”
Since US President Donald Trump returned to office for his second tenure in January, both nations have been caught in a cycle of retaliatory tariffs. The US has imposed a blanket 20 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports, while Beijing has responded with a 15 per cent duty on key US exports, including chicken, pork, soy, and beef. China has also expanded restrictions on American companies operating within its borders.
Wang criticised the Trump administration’s focus on prioritising US interests over international cooperation, and warned that such an approach could destabilise global order.
The Chinese minister also said if every country followed this path, the world would descend into the “law of the jungle.”
“Small and weak countries will get burnt first, and the international order and rules will be under severe shock,” so major countries should undertake their international obligations instead of seeking profit and bullying the weak.
