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China Warns Against US-Led Trade Isolation Amid Escalating Tariff War
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Beijing has issued a stern warning to its trading partners, urging them not to succumb to pressure from the United States to isolate China in the ongoing tariff war.
The statement comes as tensions between the world’s two largest economies continue to disrupt global markets and supply chains.
A spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry criticised the US approach, stating, “Appeasement does not bring peace, and compromise does not earn respect.
Seeking temporary self-interest at the expense of others is like asking a tiger for its skin. In the end, it will achieve nothing and harm both others and oneself.”
The warning follows reports that the Trump administration plans to pressure US trading partners into restricting trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions.
Beijing has vowed to take reciprocal countermeasures against any deals made at the expense of its interests.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded with a charm offensive in Southeast Asia, presenting China as a reliable partner and defender of global trade.
During visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, Xi signed bilateral cooperation agreements and pledged to uphold free trade principles.
Meanwhile, the US has intensified its tariff measures, raising levies on Chinese imports to 145%. In retaliation, China has increased tariffs on US goods to 125%, restricted Hollywood films, and returned Boeing jets intended for Chinese airlines. Both nations are now seeking to build coalitions of countries to support their respective positions.
Despite Beijing’s outreach, many countries remain cautious, wary of provoking the US or being flooded with cheap Chinese goods. Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, noted, “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 US economy as well.”
China’s efforts to position itself as a stabilising economic force are further complicated by its assertive military activities in the region, including live-fire drills near Australia and New Zealand, and ongoing disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
