China Accuses Trump of Blackmail Amid Escalating Trade War

Tensions between Washington and Beijing have reached new heights following the U.S. administration's latest move: a stunning 245% tariff on Chinese imports. In response, China has accused former President Donald Trump of employing coercive tactics to force a trade deal.

According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States is leveraging threats instead of genuine dialogue.

“The U.S. should stop with its 'maximum pressure' tactics and truly pursue dialogue instead of issuing threats and manipulation,” said spokesperson Lin Jian during a recent press briefing.

Despite the backlash, Trump remains firm. He claims the U.S. has the upper hand and that the next move must come from Beijing:

“The ball is in China’s court,” he stated. “We have no reason to back down.”

Tariffs Hit a Historic Peak

The White House described the massive tariff as a counter-response to China’s earlier retaliatory actions. It's the most dramatic escalation yet in a trade war that continues to shake global markets.

Beijing has not backed down. Instead, China is tightening control over exports of key materials crucial to defense and aerospace sectors and preparing additional countermeasures.

“There are no winners in a trade war, but China is not afraid of one,” Lin emphasized.

China’s Economy Holds Steady

Despite mounting pressure, China's economy is showing resilience. Q1 data revealed a 5.4% increase in GDP, a 6.5% rise in industrial output, and 4.6% growth in retail sales—outpacing analysts’ expectations.

Trump, on the other hand, is touting the impact of his trade policies domestically. Posting on Truth Social, he claimed:

“The U.S. is collecting RECORD TARIFFS. Prices are dropping, including gas, food, and nearly everything else. Inflation is falling. Promises made, promises kept!”