China’s ambassador to the U.S. urges a resolution to the trade conflict but warns that Beijing is ready to respond if needed

China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, has called on Washington to find common ground with Beijing and strive for peaceful coexistence, while also cautioning that China is prepared to respond to the intensifying trade conflict.

During a public event in Washington on Saturday, the details of which were shared on the Chinese embassy’s website, Xie warned that tariffs could severely harm the global economy, likening the current situation to the Great Depression and the tariffs enacted by the U.S. in 1930.

Drawing on principles from traditional Chinese medicine, such as the need to balance yin and yang, Xie emphasized that harmony should be the foundation of relations between the two largest economies in the world. “A well-crafted traditional Chinese medicine recipe typically includes various ingredients that complement each other to achieve the best therapeutic outcome,” he stated. “In the same way, the world is large enough to support both China and the U.S. We should aim for peaceful coexistence instead of direct confrontation and assist each other in achieving success, rather than falling into a lose-lose situation.”

The ongoing trade war has nearly paralyzed trade between the two economic giants, with tariffs exceeding 100% in both directions, alongside a range of trade, investment, and cultural restrictions.

On Saturday, China‘s leading shipbuilding association criticized a U.S. proposal to impose port fees on vessels linked to China. While Japan, Taiwan, and other nations are either in discussions or preparing to negotiate with Washington regarding President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, there are currently no plans for high-level talks with China.

Trump mentioned on Friday that the U.S. is engaging in positive private discussions with China amid the ongoing trade conflict between the two nations. “By the way, we have nice conversations going with China,” he stated to reporters at the White House. “It’s, like, really very good,” although he did not provide further specifics.

China has asserted that the U.S. must demonstrate respect before any negotiations can occur. Xie emphasized that China opposes the trade war and would respond to any country that imposes tariffs against it.