China: “There are no winners in the trade war… Opposes official exchanges between the US and Taiwan”

As former President Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election increased the possibility of increased tariffs on Chinese products, the Chinese government reaffirmed its principled opposition, saying, “There are no winners in a trade war.”

At a regular briefing on the 7th, when asked about how China would respond to President-elect Trump’s tariff threats on Chinese products, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “We do not answer hypothetical questions,” adding, “However, I would like to reiterate our position that in principle, there can be no winners in a trade war, and this is not beneficial to the world.”

Spokesperson Mao smiled briefly when asked, “President-elect Trump said, ‘Chinese President Xi Jinping knows I am crazy, so he will not invade Taiwan.’ What is China’s position on this?” He then reiterated his principled position, saying, “The Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations.”

He said, “China resolutely opposes any form of official exchanges between the US and Taiwan, and this position is consistent and clear.” He stressed that, “The US government should abide by the one-China principle and the three major joint communiques between China and the US, and handle the Taiwan issue prudently to avoid harming China-US relations and the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

Spokesperson Mao also avoided giving a direct answer to a question about whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has maintained good relations with China, playing an important role in the next administration will have a positive impact on China-US relations, saying, “We have been handling China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation, and have been working to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-US relations.”

Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a written statement on its homepage in the form of a Q&A with reporters around midnight (local time), stating, “We respect the choice of the American people,” and “We congratulate Mr. Trump on being elected president.”

Editor. Hong Se-yeong