In a direct response to a recent call by U.S. President Donald Trump for sweeping new tariffs on China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reasserted China’s commitment to peace talks and multilateralism as the only viable path to resolving global conflicts. Speaking at a news conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Saturday, Wang Yi stated that “wars cannot solve problems and that sanctions would only complicate them.”
Wang Yi’s comments were made after a meeting with Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon. The Chinese foreign minister’s European tour, which also includes Austria and Poland, is seen as a diplomatic effort to strengthen ties with Europe amid growing tensions with the United States.
Trump’s Tariff Proposal and its Impact
The Chinese foreign minister’s remarks directly address Trump’s latest push to pressure Russia over the Ukraine conflict. In a social media post, Trump called on NATO members to impose tariffs ranging from 50% to 100% on China. He argued that China’s purchase of Russian oil is a vital source of funding for Russia’s war machine and that such tariffs would “break that grip” and “greatly weaken [NATO’s] negotiating position” with Russia.
Trump’s latest threat against China follows a similar move last month when his administration imposed a 50% tariff on India for its purchase of Russian oil. While the U.S. has targeted India, it has yet to impose similar penalties on other major buyers of Russian energy, including China, Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia.
China’s Diplomatic Stance
During his press conference, Wang Yi emphasized that China is a “responsible country with the best record on peace and security issues.” He stressed that China “does not participate in or plan wars” and instead encourages “peace talks and promote political settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue.”
He also urged Europe to maintain a cooperative relationship with China, arguing that the two should be “friends rather than rivals.” According to a report by Global Times, Wang Yi stated that, “Making the right choices amid the greatest changes in a century demonstrates the responsibilities that both sides should fulfill towards history and the people.”
The foreign minister also highlighted the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and strengthen multilateral mechanisms, suggesting that China is willing to work with countries to create a more just and equitable global governance system.