China’s Foreign Ministry warned the European nations that Beijing would retaliate if the European nations follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to NATO countries to place tariffs on Chinese goods because China continues to buy oil and gas from Russia. At his press conference on Sept. 15 Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “It is fully legitimate and lawful for China to carry out normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries, including Russia. What the U.S. has done is a typical move of unilateralism, bullying and economic coercion. It seriously disrupts the international trade rules and threatens the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains. Facts have proven that coercion and pressure win no hearts and minds, still less will they solve anything.”
Lin reiterated that with respect to the Ukraine crisis, “Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the crisis.”
With respect to the threat of tariffs, Lin further declared: “If China’s legitimate rights and interests are harmed, China will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests.”
