Beijing: Rejecting the recent restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian has vowed to take necessary measures to safeguard the country’s legitimate rights and interests.
“China firmly rejects the recent U.S. restrictions and sanctions on China, and will do what is necessary to protect its legitimate rights and interests,” Lin Jian said in a post on X.
He emphasised that “threatening high tariffs is not the right way to deal with China,” urging Washington to “correct its approach and act on the common understandings the two presidents reached in their phone calls.”
China urges dialogue over confrontation
Lin further underlined that “the two sides can and should address each other’s concerns through dialogue and manage differences on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit to keep bilateral ties on a steady, sound and sustainable track.”
The comments came as US President Donald Trump tried to calm tensions with Beijing, calling Chinese President Xi Jinping “highly respected” and saying he was hopeful about improving relations between the two countries.
Trump seeks to ease tensions amid tariff threats
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine! Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment. He doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!! President DJT.”
The White House also posted on X, stating, “It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is History. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trade tensions escalate after rare earth restrictions
The exchange came after fresh tension between Washington and Beijing, following Trump’s threat to slap 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods. In response, China warned it would take countermeasures if the US president went ahead with his threat, CNN reported.
Trump’s latest threat came after China announced several new export limits on rare earth minerals last week, a move that has raised trade tensions and risked undoing months of progress in talks between the two economic powers.
Beijing vows to defend its interests
Reacting to the development, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said, “Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the right way to engage with China.”
The spokesperson added, “If the US persists in acting unilaterally, China will resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Our position on a tariff war remains consistent — we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”
Global markets jittery as dispute deepens
According to CNN, the rapid escalation of the dispute between the world’s two largest economies has rattled global markets, sinking stocks and reigniting fears of a repeat of the tit-for-tat tariff war earlier this year, when duties on Chinese and American imports soared to around 145 per cent and 120 per cent respectively.
The rising tensions have also cast a shadow over the planned meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected to take place in South Korea in two weeks. However, citing the rare earths issue, Trump has now expressed doubt over whether the meeting will go ahead, CNN reported.
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