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China-US Trade Tensions Rise as Diplomat Employs Mao Zedong Video
The verbal sparring and trade friction between Washington and Beijing intensified on Thursday when a Chinese diplomat declared that her nation “does not yield,” sharing a video of Mao Zedong denouncing the U.S. to underscore her point amidst ongoing trade tensions.
Escalating Trade Dispute: China Responds to Latest US Tariffs
China, the world’s second-largest economy and a major U.S. trading partner, has mirrored President Donald Trump’s tariff measures in recent days. Their latest levies on U.S. goods, which took effect Thursday, have reached a total of 84%.
While other nations attempt to offer Trump concessions in exchange for tariff reductions, China’s more assertive approach has provoked the president’s disapproval. On Wednesday, citing China’s “disregard” for global markets, Trump increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, even as he announced a 90-day pause on further targeted tariffs on all other U.S. trading partners.
“We Don’t Back Down”: Echoes of Mao in Trade Standoff
China responded on Thursday, stating that while it does not seek a trade conflict, it will not evade one either.
Assertive Diplomacy: Video Message on Social Media
“We are Chinese. We are not intimidated by provocations. We do not retreat,” Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated Thursday in a post on X. This assertive message highlights the ongoing trade dispute.
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The social media post also featured historic footage of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, speaking in 1953 during the Korean War era when the United States and China were opposing sides.
Mao’s Message Resonates Amidst Trade Friction
“As for the duration of the conflict, I believe it is not for us to decide,” Mao says in the video. He led China for over two decades until his death in 1976.
“In the past, it was decided by Truman. In the future, it will be determined by Eisenhower — or whomever the U.S. president may be. In other words, they can engage in conflict as long as they desire — until China achieves complete victory,” he continues in the video, subtitled in both Chinese and English. The video message underscores China’s firm trade stance.
In another apparent reference to Trump’s tariffs and the trade friction, Mao Ning also shared an image of a “Make America Great Again” hat – manufactured in countries such as China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh – displaying a “Made in China” label with a $50 price crossed out and replaced with $77.
Public Sentiment in China: Weibo Trends
A hashtag related to the Mao Zedong post became a trending topic on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, on Thursday, reflecting public sentiment regarding the trade dispute.
“We should not harbor any illusions that America will show leniency towards China,” one user commented online. “Let Trump decide – however long they wish to engage in conflict, we will engage with them,” highlighting the public sentiment on the trade issue.
China’s Stance on Trade Negotiations
The Chinese Commerce Ministry did not indicate whether it would further escalate tariffs on U.S. goods in response to Trump’s latest increase. A spokesperson stated on Thursday that the door to discussions “is always open,” but emphasized, “any dialogue must be based on mutual respect and conducted on an equal footing.” This statement clarifies China’s position on potential trade negotiations amidst the ongoing dispute.
Historical Context: Shaping China’s Trade Perspective
Underlying these remarks is China’s history of perceived exploitation by Western powers, the memory of which remains potent even as China has utilized globalization to emerge as the world’s largest trading nation in goods. This historical context is crucial to understanding China’s assertive trade stance.
Despite existing U.S. and Chinese tariffs already being at levels considered “trade-restrictive,” Trump’s public appeals to negotiate are unlikely to be effective with China, according to Rick Waters, a former State Department diplomat and current Singapore-based director at Carnegie China.
Expert Analysis: Implications of Trade Strategy
“The Chinese maintain a sense of pride, rooted in a history of perceived humiliation at the hands of foreign powers,” Waters commented. “And I believe these types of tactics reinforce their defensive instincts,” suggesting a complex dynamic influencing trade relations.
The Foreign Ministry’s office in Hong Kong, a former British colony whose return to Chinese rule in 1997 marked what China refers to as the end of a “century of humiliation,” stated that Trump’s actions “will not make America great again; they will only transform the U.S. into a 21st-century barbarian.”
“Those who attempt to coerce the world with tariffs and expect countries to call and concede defeat should not anticipate a call from China,” it asserted, reinforcing China’s firm position on trade negotiations.
Waters suggested that while he believes Trump is “genuine in his desire to explore some form of agreement with the Chinese,” such an agreement may be distant.
“I think until both sides feel compelled to engage at the negotiating table, they will allow the other to reconsider their positions,” he concluded, indicating a potentially prolonged period of trade tension.