Wang said China’s efforts to help the US contain its fentanyl crisis have been met with punitive tariffs, which are straining the ties between the countries.
“No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain a good relationship with China at the same time,” Wang said. “Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of bilateral relations or for building mutual trust.”
The two countries have been reengaging in tit-for-tat retaliatory tariffs since US President Donald Trump’s return to office in January. The US has imposed flat tariffs of 20% of all Chinese imports, while Beijing has countered with additional 15% duties on US imports including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key US companies.
Regarding the Trump administration’s policy of safeguarding US interests above international cooperation, Wang said such an approach, if adopted by every country in the world, would result in the “law of the jungle.”
“Small and weak countries will get burnt first, and the international order and rules will be under severe shock,” Wang said. “Major countries should undertake their international obligations… and not seek to profit from and bully the weak.”
On the Ukraine war, Wang reiterated China’s stance of supporting conflict resolution through political negotiations. Wang said that in hindsight, the Ukraine conflict “could have been avoided”, the AP reported.
“All parties should learn something from the crisis,” he said. “Among many other things, security should be mutual and equal, and no country should build its security on the insecurity of another.”
Asked about Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and resettle Palestinians in neighboring countries, Wang said Gaza belongs to the Palestinians and any forced change of the territory’s status would trigger new turbulence. He said China backs the peace plan put forth by Egypt and other Arab countries and reiterated Beijing’s support for a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.