China Warns Trump Against Trade War, Defends AI Development Amid Global Scrutiny
China on Monday cautioned US President Donald Trump against escalating trade tensions, warning that protectionist policies “lead nowhere.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized that “there are no winners in trade wars or tariff wars,” following Trump’s announcement of potential 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Beijing has already retaliated against Trump’s 10% tariff on Chinese goods—imposed over fentanyl trafficking concerns—by introducing counter-tariffs targeting US energy and agricultural sectors. Despite temporary tariff exemptions for Canada and Mexico, negotiations between Washington and Beijing remain stalled, reportedly due to US demands on unrelated geopolitical issues, including pressuring Russia over Ukraine and forcing the sale of TikTok to an American company.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, China reaffirmed its commitment to innovation despite growing restrictions from Western allies. Addressing concerns over the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, Guo dismissed the politicization of technology, stating that Beijing supports independent innovation and opposes “ideological barriers” in global AI cooperation.
DeepSeek, backed by hedge fund High-Flyer, has drawn global attention for its rapid rise, outpacing Western AI competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, it has also faced cyberattacks, which Chinese state media attributed to US sources. Meanwhile, countries such as South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan have restricted its use among public employees, adding to the ongoing technological rivalry between China and the US.
China’s warnings and actions highlight an increasingly complex economic and technological standoff with the Trump administration. With Washington tightening restrictions on Chinese tech and trade, Beijing appears determined to push back, leveraging both economic countermeasures and AI advancements to solidify its position in global markets.
