‘China isn’t afraid’: Beijingers shrug off Trump tariff threat
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Some residents of Beijing think an escalation in the US-China trade war will have only a moderate impact on the Chinese economy.
PHOTO: AFP
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BEIJING – Residents of China’s capital city are expressing indifference and defiance over the latest threat by US President Donald Trump to impose blistering new tariffs on their country.
On Oct 10, Mr Trump announced suddenly that the United States would slap additional 100 per cent tariffs
The Chinese authorities have yet to publicly respond to the threat, which Mr Trump said was in retaliation for Beijing’s new export control measures
“I felt nothing when I first saw the news,” said Mr Liu Ming, a 48-year-old employee at a software company, outside a large Beijing shopping mall. “Trump always has these childlike or capricious policies.”
“China isn’t afraid of any US sanctions or policies aimed at limiting us. We have the confidence and ability to do better ourselves,” he said.
Like others interviewed on the streets of Beijing, Mr Liu sees Mr Trump as fickle.
“From the perspective of a Chinese person, he is a bit unreliable,” he said.
“He always goes from this policy to that policy, causing great commotion in the world,” he added. “It is not stable.”
Ms Irene Wang, an insurance worker in her 30s, echoed the sentiment.
“He says one thing today, but maybe after a nap he’ll change his mind again,” joked Ms Wang. “At his age (79), he should be a little more composed!”
She believes the sky-high tariffs Mr Trump is threatening could backfire.
“For Americans, it could have an impact,” she said, as tariffs on Chinese products could drive up prices in the US.
As for the potential impact on people living in China, Ms Wang acknowledged she could not completely ignore the news.
“Honestly, it isn’t the first time, so we will have to wait and see how things play out,” she said.
Hoping for ‘normal’
Some residents of the Chinese capital said they expected only a moderate impact on China’s economy if the trade war with Washington escalates again.
“The import-export sector, especially those businesses, will inevitably be affected to some extent,” said Ms Jesicca Yu, 40.
But “for ordinary people in China, in the immediate future, I don’t think much will change in their daily lives”, she said.
Ms Yu also bemoaned the tense relationship between Beijing and Washington.
“The more peaceful things are, the more economic development can take place,” she said. “We hope things go back to normal.”
Ms Lisa Liu, a colleague of Ms Yu who is in her 30s, said she saw one good thing in Mr Trump’s unpredictable approach to governing.
“He gives us a lot to talk about at the dinner table,” she said. AFP
