In response to the Trump administration's demand during negotiations that other countries limit their trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions from the U.S., the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warned on Monday, "The Chinese side firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China's interests." The Ministry also issued a strong statement: "If such a situation occurs, China will absolutely not accept it and will resolutely retaliate with equivalent countermeasures."

Mr. Lao Hu believes that this warning from the Chinese side is both timely and necessary. Currently, no country wishes to take sides in the standoff between China and the U.S. However, under U.S. pressure and coercion, there is a possibility that some countries might lean slightly toward the U.S., using sacrifices in China's interests as a bargaining chip to gain tariff exemptions from the Trump administration.

If one or two countries succeed in doing so, others may follow suit. The Chinese side must clearly oppose such actions, as the Ministry of Commerce has done today, and strengthen communication with countries currently negotiating with the U.S., making them understand the reasoning. In the event that any country actually does this, we must decisively implement countermeasures and retaliations, using concrete actions to declare to the world that seeking gains at China's expense will not work, and harming China's interests to please the U.S. will come at a cost.

Given that the U.S. is closely monitoring countries that have significant trade with China, and that China is either their largest trading partner or among their top trading partners, these countries cannot do without China's powerful supply chain. A significant portion of their exports to the U.S. are linked to the larger trade chain involving China. China has the ability to influence these countries and impose punishment when individual nations act in bad faith.

For example, Japan has substantial trade with both China and the U.S., with China being Japan's largest trading partner, but Japan's exports to the U.S. slightly exceed those to China. Jesper Koll of Monex Group, an online trading platform operator in Japan, stated, "About 20% of Japan's profits come from the U.S., and about 15% from China... Japan does not want to choose between the U.S. and China." Australia, another key U.S. ally in the Asia-Pacific region, is significantly influenced by the U.S., but China is Australia's largest export destination. Australia's exports to the U.S. amount to approximately $30 billion, which is a fraction of its over $130 billion in exports to China. Vietnam's trade surplus with the U.S. exceeded $120 billion in 2024, but a large portion of Vietnam's exports relies on support from China's supply chain.

No matter which country or circumstances, if they sacrifice China's interests and simultaneously harm their own in order to curry favor with the U.S., we must resolutely implement countermeasures and retaliations. Once the first clear example of such behavior occurs, our countermeasures need to be clear and powerful enough to serve as a deterrent to others.

Additionally, Mr. Lao Hu personally suggests that given the U.S.'s clear geopolitical intention to isolate China in its trade war against China, we must focus on Taiwan across the strait. The authorities in Taiwan are the most obedient lackeys of Washington, and they are complying with the U.S.'s unreasonable demands, allowing core semiconductor production capacities like TSMC to relocate to the U.S. This strengthens the U.S.'s high-tech resources for strategic pressure against mainland China; in other words, the Taiwan authorities are directly helping the U.S. wage a technology war and economic war against mainland China.

Mr. Lao Hu personally believes that it is necessary to exert maximum pressure on the Taiwan authorities, including further tightening the military noose on "Taiwan independence." We must send a clear message to the Taiwan authorities: assisting the U.S. in confronting China means putting themselves in mortal danger. Taiwan was once a place where the U.S. provoked and contained China, but in the future, it should become the breakthrough point for us to break through the U.S.'s strategic encirclement. Forcing the Taiwan authorities to change their increasingly arrogant pro-American stance and maintain a clear distance from the U.S.'s strategy to suppress China will also have significant implications for establishing authority throughout the Asia-Pacific region, curbing U.S. hegemony in Asia.

This is a great game. Let us summon courage and boldness, fully utilize our superior strength and strategic potential, and ultimately turn the U.S.'s strategic ambitions against China into nothing more than a pile of feathers.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829993708257483/

Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.