China slams US for weaponizing tariffs

Beijing blasted on Thursday Washington' move of weaponizing tariffs to exert maximum pressure and seek selfish gains after it increased tariffs on China to 125 percent, reiterating its resolution to fight to the end.

"China does not want to fight a tariff war or a trade war, but will not fear when they come our way," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding that China will not sit by and let the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people be deprived of.

The United States President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries except China, whose tariffs he raised to 125 percent on Wednesday due to what he accused of "a lack of respect".

The US practice of abusing tariffs is out of selfish interests, which seriously infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of various countries, violated the rules of the World Trade Organization and the rules-based multilateral trade system, as well as destabilized global economic order, Lin told a daily news conference.

Washington has put its own interests over the public interests of the international community, served its hegemonic interests at the expense of the legitimate interests of the whole world, he said, adding that this will meet with stronger opposition from the international community. 

Taking necessary countermeasures to oppose US bullying serves not only to safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and developmental interests, but also to uphold international fairness and justice, and safeguard the common interests of the international community, Lin said.

The US practice doesn't win any support of the people and will end in failure, he added. 

In response to whether there is a negotiation between China and the US regarding the tariffs issue, Lin said that if the US really wants to talk, it should show an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

"Pressuring, threatening, and extorting China is not the right way to deal with us," he said.