China says can resolve any disputes with the U.S. through dialogue, negotiation
China and the United States can resolve any trade disputes through talks, the government said on Thursday, as a Chinese newspaper warned U.S. business could be targets for retaliation in any trade war ushered in by President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump, who is sworn into office on Friday, has criticised China’s trade practices and threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.
Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, Trump’s choice for commerce secretary, voiced sharp criticism of China’s trade practices on Wednesday, telling senators he would seek new ways of combating them.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Sun Jiwen said the government was willing to work with the new U.S. administration to promote the healthy development of commercial ties.
“I believe China and the United States can resolve any disputes through dialogue and negotiation and that the China-U.S. commercial relationship will not significantly stray from the path of mutual benefit,” Sun told reporters.
“Both sides benefit with cooperation, and both are hurt with conflict,” he added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said any disputes should be resolved via constructive talks, to avoid any miscalculations.
“We look forward to working hard with the new U.S. government, adhering to no clashes and no confrontation,” she told a separate briefing.
But a high-powered economist and a widely-read state-run newspaper took a harsher line.
Chen Wenling, chief economist at the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, an influential think tank with close government ties, said China does not desire a trade war but it is certainly not afraid of one.
“If you want a fight, then we will fight and we will fight to the end,” Chen said.
“But the U.S. will be the first to be injured and their injuries will be more severe,” she said, adding that China could “definitely defeat the U.S.”
In an editorial, the Global Times said that as the United States has the stronger economy, China may suffer more once a trade war starts, but China “will take the U.S. on to the end”.
