China vows to fight tariffs to end, saying trade with US is already balanced

(9 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing - 9 April 2025
1. Wide of Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, at news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“China is verifying the relevant situation with the Ukrainian side. Let me stress that the Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens to stay away from conflict zones, to avoid getting involved in any form of armed conflict, and especially to refrain from participating in any party’s military operations.”
3. Mid of reporter
4. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“The statement is completely unfounded. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is unequivocal and has been widely recognized by the international community. Ukraine should correctly view China's efforts and constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine crisis. As for whether there has been communication between China and Ukraine, I have no information.”
5. Mid of reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“The U.S. continues to impose excessive tariffs and exert extreme pressure on China. China firmly opposes and will never accept such hegemonic and bullying behaviour.”
7. Mid of reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect, and mutual benefit. If the U.S. disregards the interests of both countries and the international community and insists on engaging in a tariff war and trade war, China will definitely fight to the end.”
9. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China again vowed to “fight to the end” against Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday, arguing that trade between the two countries is in balance as a 104% tax on the country's exports to the U.S. came into effect.

“If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect, and mutual benefit," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, told reporters.

"If the U.S. disregards the interests of both countries and the international community and insists on engaging in a tariff war and trade war, China will definitely fight to the end.”

Lin also said China would take resolute measures to defend its trading rights, but gave no details on how it will respond to U.S. moves.

Last Friday, China announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S, export controls on rare earths minerals, and a slew of other measures in response to Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs.

Trump then added an additional 50% tariff on goods from China, saying negotiations with them were terminated.

So far, China has not appeared interested in bargaining.

Lin also rejected a claim by Ukraine that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting alongside Russia’s invading army, describing it as “completely unfounded."

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region and had information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces.

It was the first time that Ukraine had made such a claim about Chinese fighters on its soil amid Russia’s almost three-year invasion.

Lin said in Beijing that China has played a “constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine crisis.”


His comments appeared to indicate that the captured Chinese had joined Russia’s ranks on their own initiative.


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