With stern language, Beijing has responded to former US President Donald Trump‘s actions regarding the bilateral trade relationship, calling his moves “threatening and coercive” and “wrong on top of wrong”. In a white paper published on Wednesday, the Chinese government reiterated its intention to respond with countermeasures, signaling that Washington would face its own consequences.

“This action will not help solve the US’s domestic economic problems, but will ultimately turn against it,” the document said. China calls for “mutual respect,” stressing that it is natural for there to be differences and friction between two large countries with different stages of development and economic systems.

Beijing stresses that the success of China and the United States is not a threat to each other, but an opportunity for mutual benefit. However, the lengthy white paper goes on to include pages of strong criticism of the U.S. government and its practices.

It accuses the US of abusing trade levers to stifle China’s economic rise, and argues that Washington has repeatedly violated its commitments, including the “phase one” agreement signed during Trump’s first presidential term.

In addition, China cites its well-established positions on US accusations of human rights violations in Xinjiang province, as well as its harsh crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. And it reiterates the view that the United States is using the fentanyl phenomenon as a pretext to escalate the trade war against it.

“An economic success for both”

The White Paper makes clear that Beijing does not intend to back down in the trade war and recalls the latest communication between Trump and Xi Jinping. “Trade wars have no winners and protectionism leads to deadlock,” it said. It stressed that China and the US economic progress is a shared opportunity, not a mutual threat.

The Chinese side calls on Washington to stand shoulder to shoulder with Beijing on the basis of the common goals set out in their telephone conversation earlier this year.

“Decisive and forceful measures”

Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry reiterated on Wednesday that Beijing will take “decisive and forceful” measures to protect its interests after the entry into force of 104% net global tariffs on Chinese imports to the US.

“If the US really wants to resolve the problem through dialogue and negotiations, it should demonstrate an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” State Department spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.

Echoing comments made by the Commerce Department on Tuesday, Lin said that “if the US insists on waging a tariff and trade war, China ‘will definitely fight to the end.'”