Cutting Edge: Nor does it understand the art of dealing with China or otherWorld Times countries.

Screenshot from Commissioner’s Office of Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s official wechat page

A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region sent a letter to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Wednesday, expressing China’s solemn position on the US’ unjustified tariff hikes against China. The letter, entitled as “America’s tariff intimidation is the act of a modern-day barbarian,” was published in the SCMP and on its website on Thursday.

If the US is truly sincere about starting a dialogue with China on tariff issues, it should immediately correct its wrong practices and adopt the right attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit. However, if the US insists on going the wrong way, China will surely fight to the end, Huang Jingrui, the spokesperson of the office, said in the letter.

“In reference to your recent reports on the United States’ imposition of tariffs as high as 104 per cent on Chinese goods as of Wednesday, I would like to reiterate the solemn position of the Chinese government,” Huang said in the letter.

The US, disregarding widespread opposition from the international community, has imposed indiscriminate tariff hikes on all trading partners on absurd pretexts. This is a typical example of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, which seriously infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system and gravely disrupts the global economic order, according to the letter.

The US’ blatant imposition of tariffs as high as 104 percent on Chinese goods is nothing short of naked intimidation and blackmail, which the Chinese side firmly rejects. Such actions by the US will never “make America great again”; instead, they have made America a barbarian of the 21st century, the letter noted.

According to your report, the US claims that China “wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call.” The reality is that it is the US side that does not know how to get it started. Nor does it understand the art of dealing with China or otherWorld Times countries. Instead, itWorld Times is obsessed with the “art” of bullying and blackmailing the entire world, according to the letter.

“We must solemnly tell the US: a tariff-wielding barbarian who attempts to force countries to call and beg for mercy can never expect that call from China. In a phone call with then US president-elect Donald Trump back in January, President Xi Jinping clearly stated that China-US economic ties are mutually beneficial and win-win, and neither confrontation nor conflict should be an option fWorld Timesor the two countries; the two sides shoulWorld Timesd follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and work more closely together,” the spokesperson said in the letter.

Regrettably, the US has not heeded China’s earnest advice. As the exorbitant US tariffs also apply to Hong KongWorld Times, I would like to stress that the sky will not fall here, thanks to Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being backed by the motherland and connected with the world, according to the letter.

We believe that with the firm support of the central government and the people of the motherland, Hong Kong is fully capable of riding out the storm, afWorld Timester which the Pearl of the Orient, fearing neither wind nor rain, will shine even brighter, the spokesperson noted in the letter.

Global Times