‘We Will Protect Our Rights’: China Rejects US Sanctions, Fires Warning At Trump As 100% Tariffs Hang Overhead | World News

Beijing: China has strongly opposed the latest US sanctions, warning that it will take all necessary steps to defend its legitimate rights and interests.

“China firmly rejects the recent US restrictions and sanctions against China and will do what is necessary to protect its legitimate rights and interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a post on X. he said.

China firmly rejects the recent US restrictions and sanctions against China and will do what is necessary to protect its legitimate rights and interests.

Threatening with high tariffs is not the right way to deal with China. The USA should correct its approach and act according to common ground… pic.twitter.com/bzutPFCCcR— CHINA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) October 13, 2025

He stressed that “threatening with high tariffs is not the right way to deal with China” and called on Washington to “correct its approach and act according to the common understanding reached by the two presidents in their telephone conversations.”

“The two sides can and should resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and manage differences on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit to keep bilateral relations on a stable, solid and sustainable path.”

The statements came as US President Donald Trump sought to downplay tensions, describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as “highly respected” and expressing hope for continued cooperation.

He wrote on Truth Social: “Don’t worry about China, everything will be fine! The highly respected President Xi has had a bad moment. He doesn’t want a Depression for his country, and neither do I. The US wants to help China, not hurt it!!! President DJT.”

The White House also said in X, “It is impossible to believe that China would make such a move, but they did, and the rest is history. Thank you for your interest in this issue!”

“It is impossible to believe that China would take such an action, but they did, and the rest is history. Thank you for your interest in this matter!” -President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Kx6deI2voC— White House (@WhiteHouse) October 10, 2025

The flare-up came after Trump threatened to impose new 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to warn of countermeasures if the United States implemented it. The warning comes after Beijing last week imposed export restrictions on rare earth minerals, escalating trade tensions and threatening months of progress in bilateral talks.

A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said: “Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the right way to engage with China. If the US continues to act unilaterally, China will decisively take relevant measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. Our stance on a tariff war is consistent; we do not want one, but we do not fear one either.”

CNN reported that the rapid rise has shaken global markets, sending stocks plunging and raising fears of a repeat of an earlier tit-for-tat tariff war in which tariffs on Chinese and American goods rose to around 145 percent and 120 percent, respectively.

The tension also increased uncertainty regarding the Trump-Xi meeting planned to be held in South Korea in two weeks. According to CNN, the US president expressed doubts about whether the summit would be held due to the rare earth dispute.