Beijing - Saba:
The Chinese Foreign Ministry published a striking video calling on the international community to stand up to US President Donald Trump, whom it described as a "bully."
In the video, China said that "kneeling to a bully is like drinking poison to quench your thirst, and it exacerbates the crisis," adding: "History has proven that kneeling only leads to more bullying, and China will not kneel."
The video tells a historical lesson about what China considers "American economic aggression," which forced companies like Toshiba and Alstom to disintegrate, suffer a financial crisis, and push the Japanese economy into "decades of anemic growth."
In contrast, China portrayed itself as a free trade haven where other countries could safely invest and partner, stating, "Our country will stand firm no matter what the winds blow, and someone must step forward, carrying a torch in hand, to dispel the fog and light the way." It called on all countries to "stand firm and break hegemony."
In the video, China described the United States as a "paper tiger," noting that "American imports and exports account for less than a fifth of global trade, and that the United States does not represent the entire world."
It also stated, "When the rest of the world stands together, the United States is just a small, adrift boat. There is no doubt that the United States will continue to waver in its positions and pursue a policy of hardline policies."
The video did not specifically mention the 145% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Chinese imports, or the 125% retaliatory tariffs imposed by China on American goods.
On April 2, Trump announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on imports from other countries. The base rate will be 10 percent, but each country will set its own tariff, which will be half of what it charges companies importing American goods.
On April 9, Trump announced a 90-day suspension of planned tariffs on more than 75 countries to allow for negotiations with these countries regarding their trade imbalances with the United States. China was not among these countries.
The World Trade Organization estimated that trade volume between the United States and China could decline by 80 percent due to the reciprocal tariffs.
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