Chinese state media warns retaliation against US tariffs could ‘become routine’
- Taoran Notes commentary also seeks to play down expectations over possible meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Japan later this month
- It says Beijing is showing its determination when it comes to ‘genuine battle preparations’
Chinese state media has warned the countermeasures Beijing is taking against Washington’s increased tariffs and technology containment strategy could “become routine”.
In a commentary on Friday, Taoran Notes – a social media account affiliated with official newspaper Economic Daily – also sought to play down expectations that an anticipated meeting between the Chinese and US leaders later this month could get trade negotiations back on track.
It listed areas where China could strike back against the duties and other moves such as a ban on US companies supplying technology to Huawei. Those areas included exports of rare earths, which are used in nearly all hi-tech products, and its “unreliable” entities list.
“China is showing its determination and capability when it comes to genuine ‘battle preparations’, and these countermeasures will gradually become routine,” the commentary said. “After that, every countermeasure [Beijing takes] will be more foreseeable and rules-based.”
Tensions have been rising between Washington and Beijing after trade talks stalled last month, with China in recent weeks announcing it would blacklist “unreliable” foreign entities deemed to have damaged the interests of Chinese firms, issuing a US travel advisory, and setting up a measure to protect technology firms.
State media – including People’s Daily, national broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua news agency – responded with a volley of criticism after US President Donald Trump abruptly raised tariffs to 25 per cent on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods on May 10. Beijing retaliated by increasing duties on US$60 billion of American imports.