Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said today that China will continue to retaliate against the United States for its "arbitrary tariffs" and accused Washington of "returning evil for good."
Wang told a news conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's parliament that China's efforts to help the United States (US) combat the fentanyl crisis have been met with a response of punitive tariffs, which are straining ties between the two countries.
"No country should imagine that it can simultaneously suppress China and maintain a good relationship with it. Such duplicity is not good for the stability of bilateral relations or for building mutual trust," Wang said.
The two countries have been slapping tariffs on each other since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The US imposed a 20% tariff on all Chinese goods, while Beijing retaliated with an additional 15% tariff on US goods including chicken, pork, soybeans and beef, and expanded scrutiny of business with key US companies.
Referring to the Trump administration's policy of preserving American interests in international cooperation, Wang said that such an approach, if applied by every country in the world, would result in the "law of the jungle."
"Small and weak countries will be the first to be hurt and the international order and rules will be severely shaken. Leading countries should assume their international obligations, not profit from the weak and treat them like bullies," he said.
In reference to the war in Ukraine, Wang reiterated China's position that it supports a solution to the conflict through political negotiations and added that, looking back on the past, he thinks the Ukrainian conflict "could have been avoided."
"All sides need to learn something from the crisis. Among many other things, security should be mutual and equal and no country should build its security on the insecurity of another," he said.
He stressed that Sino-Russian relations are stronger than ever despite recent consultations between the US and Russia over ending the Ukrainian war.
He said Beijing and Moscow are planning joint celebrations this year to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Referring to Taiwan, a self-governing island that China considers its territory, Wang said that "Taiwan has never been a country and will never be a country in the future."
"Advocating for Taiwan independence is dividing the country, supporting Taiwan independence is interfering in China's internal affairs, and negotiating Taiwan independence is undermining the stability of the Taiwan Strait," he said, adding that those who play with Taiwan independence are "playing with fire and will burn themselves."
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