China’s ambassador to the US advocates for a balanced approach in US-China relations.
China’s ambassador to the United States has cautioned Washington against repeating errors that exacerbated the Great Depression in the 1930s, advocating for peaceful coexistence. He also warned that China is prepared to retaliate amid the escalating trade war.
The tariff dispute with China is unfolding amidst a broader US campaign targeting numerous countries. While most of the increased tariffs were temporarily suspended for 90 days, China was excluded from this suspension. The overall tariff on Chinese goods has been raised to 145%.
In response, China has imposed 125% tariffs on American goods and restricted exports of minerals vital for high-tech manufacturing.
Speaking at a Traditional Chinese Medicine event in Washington on Saturday, Ambassador Xie Feng cautioned that the import duties could destabilize the global economy, drawing a parallel to the US tariff policies of 1930 that contributed to the Great Depression, according to the Chinese embassy’s website.
Referencing principles from traditional Chinese medicine, he emphasized the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than merely treating symptoms. He called for collaborative efforts to expand the global economy instead of competing over existing resources.
“You can’t just treat a headache by just focusing on the head, or foot pain by only targeting the feet,” Xie stated. “And you certainly shouldn’t prescribe medicine to others when you’re the one who’s sick.”
He referenced past US protectionist measures, particularly the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which is widely considered to have deepened the Great Depression. This act, designed to protect American agriculture and manufacturing with import duties of up to 75% on items like car parts and wool, triggered a sharp decline in global trade, worsening the economic crisis.
“I believe many of you are familiar with how the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act ultimately escalated the Great Depression,” the envoy said.
Drawing on philosophy, he highlighted the need to balance opposing forces and stated that harmony should guide relations between the world’s two largest economies.
He suggested that the two countries should pursue “peaceful coexistence” rather than confrontation, and support each other’s success to avoid a lose-lose situation.
Xie affirmed that China opposes the trade war and will retaliate against any country imposing tariffs on it.
Last week, US President Donald Trump mentioned that discussions were ongoing with Chinese officials, noting that Washington is having “nice conversations going with China. It’s, like, really very good.”
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