China will have to hit back at US ‘bullying’, top diplomat Wang Yi tells Munich forum

MUNICH – China’s top diplomat said the country will respond to any further unilateral US sanctions, calling such moves a form of “bullying” in his first major public remarks since US President Donald Trump launched a new trade conflict. 

“If the US is not willing, if it is bent on suppressing and containing China, then we have no choice but to play along to the end,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told officials at the Munich Security Conference on Feb 14.

“We will resolutely respond to unilateral bullying practices of the US.” 

The Trump administration

imposed 10 per cent tariffs on China

days into his second term. Beijing retaliated by targeting a handful of American companies, slapping levies on some US goods and placing export controls on some critical metals. 

Still, Mr Wang sought to take a longer view of relations with the US, expressing confidence that Beijing and Washington will remain engaged long into the future.

“We need to strengthen exchanges to boost understanding and build trust,” he said. 

The Chinese authorities are attempting to strike a balance between taking action that could crimp its economy and demonstrating that it is able to respond to US moves. At the same time, they are seeking to bolster growth, with domestic demand remaining weak and exports now under threat. 

But the US-China trade fight falls within a larger context. Mr Trump’s 10 per cent duties add to tension, but they are a fraction of the 60 per cent rate the US President had threatened during his re-election campaign – or the 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs he has imposed on steel and aluminium imports. 

During his first administration, Mr Trump offered praise for President Xi Jinping – until the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to blame China.

Despite elevating a number of China hawks to senior positions in his new administration, Mr Trump’s focus abroad so far has been on more immediate neighbours, including Panama and Greenland. 

Days before his Jan 20 inauguration, Mr Trump and Mr Xi had a call in which they discussed trade, TikTok and fentanyl, in addition to Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war.

“We have a very good personal relationship,” Mr Trump told Fox News in an interview taped last week. 

Russia ties

Mr Wang spoke in Germany at a gathering focused on global security. He fended off a question on whether China would stop Russian gas purchases to pressure the Kremlin in its war on Ukraine. 

“If China does not buy gas from Russia, which country can provide so much gas as to meet the needs of the Chinese people? It’s not possible,” he said. 

The minister reiterated China’s call for peace talks that involve all parties, including Europe, to the conflict. But Beijing has largely avoided the core issues in the war, such as Ukraine’s demand that Russia abandon territory it has annexed since 2014. 

“China would love to see all efforts conducive to peace, including over the past couple of days, the US has reached a common understanding with Russia,” Mr Wang said. 

In Mr Xi’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in January, both leaders said they were open to dialogue with Mr Trump on the war in Ukraine “if appropriate signals come from Washington”. Mr Trump has said he wants Mr Xi’s help in swiftly ending the conflict. 

Before travelling to Germany, Mr Wang visited the UK and Ireland, and will head to the US and South Africa after the conference, the Foreign Ministry announced earlier. BLOOMBERG