In the wake of the recent debate between former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden, a Chinese official has issued a stern warning to the United States.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy to the United States, has stated that a trade war between the two nations would not result in a victory for the U.S. This comes after Trump's aggressive stance on Beijing during the debate, where he advocated for a 10 percent tariff on all incoming U.S. goods.
According to Newsweek, Liu Pengyu emphasized the mutual benefits of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, stating, "No one will win a trade war or a tariff war." He further warned against the adoption of protectionism, asserting that such measures would only disrupt normal trade flows and the stability of the production and supply chain, serving no one's interests.
During the first debate of the 2024 election season, Trump defended his call for tariffs, arguing that they would increase costs for foreign exporters rather than domestic consumers. "It's just going to cause countries that have been ripping us off for years, like China and many others, in all fairness to Chinait's going to just force them to pay us a lot of money, reduce our deficit tremendously," Trump said, "and give us a lot of power for other things."
China was a frequent topic during the debate, with Trump mentioning the country a dozen times throughout the 90-minute event. The U.S. and China, as the world's first and second-largest economies respectively, have been locked in a power struggle, with Beijing's rapid growth in economy, military, and technology posing a significant challenge to Washington's global dominance.
However, Liu took exception to the frequency and tone of references to China during the debate. "China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and does not comment on issues related to the U.S. presidential election," Liu said. "At the same time, we oppose the U.S. frequently making an issue of China in the election."
Despite the strained relations under Trump's administration, Liu expressed hope for the future of China-U.S. relations, stating, "No matter who is elected, China hopes that China-U.S. relations will continue to develop in a sound and steady way," and that China will continue to handle relations with the U.S. based on principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.
Trump, however, continued to criticize Biden's approach to Beijing, alleging an overly accommodating stance. He also touted his administration's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, arguing that it would have cost the U.S. a trillion dollars while exempting China, Russia, and India from any financial burden.
Biden, on the other hand, defended his rejoining of the accord and challenged Trump's claims of achievements in China policy. "You have not, in fact, made any contact, any progress with China," Biden said. "We are the lowest trade deficit with China since 2010."
The debate was not without controversy, with both candidates making bold claims and accusations. Trump accused Biden of accepting payments from China, a claim for which no evidence has emerged. Biden, on the other hand, stumbled over his words and failed to finish sentences at times, sparking concern among fellow Democrats about his mental acuity.
Trump also claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, "don't respect" and "don't fear" Biden, suggesting a potential World War III scenario. Biden countered this by arguing that another Trump presidency would be the most likely path to doomsday.
The debate drew international attention, with countries such as Russia and Iran responding to the candidates' remarks. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Trump would eventually understand that there are no alternatives to Putin's peace proposal in Ukraine. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations dismissed the candidates' attempts to claim they were tougher on the Islamic Republic, stating that their remarks were more emotional than logical and lacked strategic backing.
The global media, including key U.S. allies, closely watched the debate, with many focusing on Biden's missteps. Despite the controversy and heated exchanges, the search for common ground continues, challenging conventional wisdom and forging new connections in the process.
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