China invokes Korean war talks as reason not to bow to US in trade dispute

A top Chinese newspaper has likened the country’s trade dispute with the US to the ending of the Korean war, saying China’s determination to resist US bullying during the two years of negotiations towards an armistice in the 1950s is a reason not to bow to Washington in today’s trade talks.

State media has increasingly alluded to or directly referenced the 1950-53 Korean war – when China and North Korea battled United Nations forces led by the United States – to rally public opinion behind the government during China’s ongoing trade conflict with the US.

Tensions rose sharply in May after US President Donald Trump’s administration accused China of having reneged on its previous promises to make structural changes to its economic practices.

Washington later slapped additional tariffs of up to 25 per cent on US$200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.

In a front-page commentary on Wednesday, Study Times, published by the Central Party School which trains rising officials, said China’s spirit and determination during talks to end the Korean war, which took two years, were relevant today.

While the piece made no direct mention of the current trade war, the message in it left little doubt as to the intention of the article, China having repeatedly blasted the US for trying to bully it into submission over trade.