China Calls on Washington to End Trade War, Stresses Readiness to Respond

Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States, called on Washington to seek consensus with Beijing and peaceful coexistence, but also stressed that China is ready to respond in light of the escalating trade war.

In remarks at a public event in Washington, details of which were posted on the Chinese embassy’s website, Xie said that tariffs would devastate the global economy and compared the Great Depression to the tariffs imposed by the United States in 1930.

Referring to concepts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as the need to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang, Xie said that harmony should guide relations between the world’s two largest economies.

He added: “A good TCM prescription usually combines many different components that enhance each other and achieve the best medical results.” He continued: “Similarly, the world is vast enough to accommodate both China and the United States. We must seek peaceful coexistence rather than head-on collision, and help each other succeed rather than fall into the trap of mutual loss.” The massive trade war has virtually halted trade between the world’s two largest economies, with tariffs exceeding 100% in both directions and a range of trade, investment, and cultural restrictions.