BEIJING: The United States’ decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods only demonstrates the US’s weakness and not its strength, which could mean some people in America are “going crazy” as stated by Beijing’s Foreign Minister with unusual frankness.
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden announced a new, high increase in tariffs for commodities from China that include batteries for electric cars (EVs), microchips used in computers and medical products. He risks an election-year face-off with Beijing even as he seeks support of American voters who have given his economic policies a thumbs-down.
China had immediately sworn to take vengeance.
“This is today’s most common form of bullying! Some Americans have gone crazy protecting their unipolar hegemony,” Wang Yi told CCTV according to a statement published on state broadcaster CCTV.
“However, it is the opposite reason why the suppression of China by the US does not indicate strength but reveals its loss of self-confidence and disorder,” he added.
Wang maintained that rather than hinder China’s growth, this action by the US will galvanize her 1.4 billion population into harder work.
“In such a crucial moment in global economic recovery, Washington should be cautioned by world public opinion against throwing global affairs into further turmoil,” Wang said.
Biden noted that while China may retaliate with increased duties–maybe on unrelated products–it is unlikely to escalate into international conflict.
