Washington mustn't misjudge Beijing's resolve to resist

Editor's note: The United States recently announced it would further raise tariffs on Chinese goods. This is a move that seriously violates the consensus reached between the two heads of state, undermines the interests of the two countries, threatens the security of the global industrial and supply chains, and will be a drag on international trade and world economic growth. Zhong Sheng, a columnist for People's Daily, comments:

Some in the US even naively believe that China will not counterattack following the increased tariffs by the US. This shows they have misjudged the situation, especially seriously misjudged China's will and ability to retaliate.

In the face of extreme pressure ratcheted up by the US again and again, China has maintained a rational and restrained attitude, but it is determined to resolutely safeguard its core national interests and the fundamental interests of its people, and will never yield on matters of principle. China will resolutely respond to any provocations.

As a response to the US tariff moves, China has taken a series of countermeasures, from beginning to raise tariffs on some imported goods from the US on June 1, announcing that it would set up a list of unreliable entities and issuing a warning for students and tourists going to the US, to suspending the purchase of US agricultural products and recently announcing a third round of countermeasures. China means what it says, and it is impossible for any country to force China to accept unreasonable demands through extreme pressure.

With the desire for "exclusive interests", some in the US are obsessed with its hegemonic status, even at the expense of the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. The unilateralism and bullying behavior of the US have seriously trampled on international fairness and justice and posed a serious threat to the rules-based international order and the multilateral trading system. China's determination to take firm and effective countermeasures is to safeguard its own interests, and to maintain the common interests of people all over the world.

China's position is clear and consistent: there is no winner in a trade war. Anyone who misjudges China's will and ability to resolutely respond and continues to go his own way will have to pay a heavy price.