China Retaliates Against Trump Regime Bullying

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

US policies toward China and other sovereign independent countries aim to marginalize, weaken, isolate, contain, and control them — what the scourge of imperialism is all about.

Its prominent features include bullying, threats and brute force, a longterm self-defeating strategy, especially against rising powers Russia and China, able to do whatever it takes to defend their sovereign rights and interests.

Trump is a geopolitical know-nothing, surrounded by hawkish right-wing extremists. Along with the vast majority of congressional members, they're hostile to world peace, stability, and mutual cooperation with other nations — hellbent on transforming independent ones into US colonies.

In response to Trump's escalated trade war with China, its Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing will retaliate appropriately, plenty of ammunition at its disposal.

China wants resolution of Trump's trade war, but isn't afraid to fight one if unacceptable Trump regime tactics continue, she said.

Time and again, the US blames others for its hostile actions. On Sunday, US war secretary Mark Esper falsely accused China of "destabilizing (and) aggressive (actions) to reshape the (Indo-Pacific) in its favor."

It's how the US operates globally — not China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and other nations on its target list for regime change.

In response to the Trump regime's escalated trade war, China devalued its currency by letting it fall to its lowest level in over a decade, emerging market currencies selling off in response.

Perceived as a safe harbor, the Japanese yen rose to a seven-month high against the dollar.

According to currency analyst Mashashi Hashimoto, what's happening "could well be the biggest moment for the yuan this year. The impact of US-China trade is turning out to be very big."

Economist Tommy Xie said a yuan rate to the dollar "stronger than 6.9 "shows China's preference for stability, but one that's weaker will be seen as a strong hint that more drops will be allowed."

On Monday, Asian equity markets tumbled while gold rose to a six-year high.

Separately, Bloomberg News reported that "China asked state buyers to halt US agricultural imports," adding:

Because of trade war friction, Beijing's purchases of US soybeans are lowest since "at least 2004," far below last year's level.

Bloomberg quoted commodities analyst Darin Friedrichs, saying "(t)he leverage that China has is its large agricultural purchases."

"This does affect US farmers and the rural US voting base that's normally in support of Donald Trump. If they hit back before the election, that's the obvious way to retaliate."

"We'll see a lot of private importers backing away from US products…"

What's going directly affects Sino/US trade talks. Analyst Li -Gang Liu said Trump's actions show he's an untrustworthy negotiating partner, adding:

"(I)t's hard to imagine that (China's chief negotiator Vice Premier Liu will) fl(y) to Washington…to talk again" after Trump said he'll impose 10% tariffs on another $300 billion worth of Chinese products.

China's deputy UN envoy Zhou Xiaoming made similar remarks, suggesting Liu may cancel his scheduled September trip to Washington for further talks, perhaps suspending them altogether because the US can't be trusted.

Chinese state media questioned whether talks should continue given Trump's "destructive" tariff threat.

On Saturday, the Taoran Notes social media account connected to China's Economic Daily slammed the Trump regime for "stepp(ing) back from (its) promises…pressur(ing) China (to) attain someone's political aims," adding:

"China has no interest in domestic US politics at all but has been kidnapped to be used for this purpose…multiple times." 

"As (the Trump regime) continues to flag new tariffs, is there a necessity to continue the trade talks in the near future?...It depends on the attitude of the US" at a time of growing US initiated friction in bilateral relations.

Washington doesn't negotiate. It demands, pressuring other countries to bend to its will — a failed strategy in dealing with China and other nations, what Trump doesn't understand.

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