US should come to its senses, stop pushing for trade war

Along with the package of tariffs and investment restrictions it is reportedly planning as punishment for what it alleges are China's violations of US intellectual property laws and pressuring of US companies to transfer technology, the Trump administration is also considering limiting the number of visas issued to Chinese students, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The move comes after the director of the FBI accused Chinese students and researchers in the United States of being covert information collectors, spies in other words, and after Washington announced it will impose stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from China.

So far, Beijing's response to these moves has been rather subdued. Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said recently that China will take "necessary measures" if its interests are harmed, but knowing how important a healthy trade relationship is to the bigger picture of bilateral ties, Beijing has so far chosen to keep its powder dry in the belief that once the rain has gone the sky will brighten.