Beijing has issued a harsh warning to its trading partners, urging them not to isolate China under pressure from the United States in President Donald Trump’s active tariff campaign. The information is part of China’s dual strategy of outreach and retaliation, targeting countries trapped in escalating economic conflicts between the world’s two largest economies.
A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that the Trump administration is offering tariff exemptions in exchange for trade with China.
“App feet will not bring peace, and compromise will not win respect. Seeking temporary self-interest in sacrifice of others – in exchange for so-called exemptions is like asking a tiger for a skin to the skin. In the end, it will gain nothing and harm others and others.”
The spokesman stressed that China “resolutely opposes any political party at the expense of China’s interests”, warning that if this situation is achieved, Beijing will “resolutely adopt reciprocal measures.”
The warning comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour, portraying China as a stable and determined global trade advocate. His visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia is part of an effort to strengthen bilateral relations, sign cooperation agreements, and distinguish China from the Trump administration’s turbulent policies.
With tariffs and supply chains in global markets devastated, many countries are working to balance their relationship with the two economic giants. Trump recently suspended most of his “countdown” tariffs in most countries for 90 days, shifting his attention to China by raising tariffs on Chinese imports to a record 145%. In response, China raised its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%, limiting U.S. companies and returning Boeing aircraft for Chinese operators.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is actively putting pressure on trading partners to limit contact with China. This includes blocking states from using as a bus hub for Chinese goods, preventing Chinese companies from circumventing U.S. tariffs by establishing local operations, and refusing to enter cheap Chinese products.
Beijing, which seeks to exploit uncertainty, is deepening its diplomatic efforts. Chinese officials have been promoting closer economic cooperation with their counterparts in Japan, South Korea and the EU. However, outreach is filled with cautious optimism. Many countries are worried about being flooded with Chinese goods transferred by the U.S. market and are worried that Washington may retaliate.
Despite Xi Jinping’s diplomatic push, China’s history in forced trade practices and regional aggression has attracted attention. Elizabeth Cranagan, a senior fellow at the Stanford’s Hoover Institution, noted that countries may remain vigilant despite potential openness to stronger trade relations with China.
“For many of these countries, even if China is a larger trading partner, the United States is usually a larger export market. So they also have a huge stake in the U.S. economy,” she said.
She also stressed China’s ongoing military confidence, referring to on-site shooting exercises near Australia and New Zealand, ongoing tensions with Taiwan, clashes in the South China Sea and controversial with Japan on the Senkaku Islands.
“Even if they try to advance themselves as a stable economic force, they don’t respond to their security ambitions,” the economy added. “If Xi is actually going to realize that he wants to get from what President Trump does, the charismatic offense must be more comprehensive.”
