China says it is ‘tearing down walls’ to expand trade alliances amid US stand-off

BEIJING – China is “tearing down walls” and expanding its circle of trading partners, “shaking hands” instead of “shaking fists”, its Foreign Ministry said on April 15, as Beijing works on diversifying ties amid an escalating trade war with the United States.

US President Donald Trump has

added an eye-watering 145 per cent of tariffs

on Chinese goods as part of broader reciprocal duties on all US trading partners. That prompted ridicule and criticism from Beijing, which retaliated by

jacking up levies on US goods

by 125 per cent.

“In the face of external uncertainties, China will insist on shaking hands rather than shaking fists, tearing down walls instead of building barriers, connecting instead of decoupling,” Mr Lin Jian, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said during a news briefing on April 15.

The World Trade Organisation has warned the high-stakes China-US trade row could cut the shipment of goods between two economies

by as much as 80 per cent

and severely hurt global growth.

Beijing has called Mr Trump’s tariffs strategy “a joke”, irritating US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

“These are not a joke. I mean these are big numbers,” Mr Bessent said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “I think no one thinks they’re sustainable, wants them to remain here, but it’s far from a joke.”

Any US-China negotiations would have to come from “the top”, involving Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Bessent also said.

Mr Xi on April 14 kicked off a three-nation tour of South-east Asia.

In Vietnam, which is facing potential US tariffs of 46 per cent, Mr Xi called for the two countries to

oppose “unilateral bullying”

and to strengthen cooperation in production and supply chains.

Chinese and Vietnamese officials also signed dozens of cooperation deals during Mr Xi’s visit, including on production and supply chains, as well as railway cooperation.

After a two-day stop in Hanoi, Mr Xi will continue his South-east Asian trip by visiting Malaysia and Cambodia, which could be slapped by additional US tariffs of 24 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively.

A commentary published on April 15 by China’s state-run People’s Daily underlined the need for unity amid the trade turbulence.

“In the face of crisis, no one can keep only to oneself,” the commentary said, referencing Dorothy’s adventure in the American children’s story The Wizard Of Oz. “Only unity and cooperation can meet the challenge.”

The commentary presented China as a benevolent advocate for free trade, spotlighting China’s decision to implement zero tariffs for some of its least developed partners. REUTERS