Beijing: Trade war with US harms all

Chinese diplomats spoke out against the damage a trade war with the United States could cause to the global economy and reiterated their opposition to it days after Donald Trump assumed office as US president.

Their remarks came amid mounting speculation about possible trade conflicts between the world's two largest economies, given Trump's blunt rhetoric on trade with China. During the presidential campaign, Trump called China a currency manipulator and threatened to impose a 45 percent tariff on imports from the country.

Lu Kang, spokesman and director of the Foreign Ministry's information department, told NBC News on Tuesday that a trade war with the US is not what China wants, because it serves no one's interest and can only harm both sides.