China tells US to stop turning trade into a political weapon under Trump

China has told the United States government directly to stop using trade and investments as political weapons, according to an official statement released Saturday by China’s Ministry of Commerce in Beijing.

The ministry spoke out after President Donald Trump’s administration introduced new limits on investments from China into US companies, which the American government linked directly to national security concerns under Trump’s “America First” policy.

The Ministry of Commerce criticized Washington openly, stating clearly that such measures will severely damage Chinese companies’ confidence when they try to invest in America. According to the ministry, these new policies mean tougher reviews for Chinese business ties and will hurt relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

China’s reaction came just days after President Trump’s administration released the “America First Investment Policy,” where it openly labeled China as one of the US’s main “adversaries.” The policy document accused China specifically of pushing its companies to invest heavily in American firms to gain access to advanced technology, intellectual property rights, and influence over strategic industries in America.

In the same week, Scott, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, spoke to Bloomberg TV about America’s trade relationship with China. Scott bluntly labeled China’s economy as “the most unbalanced economy in the history of the world.” Scott pointed to Beijing’s $295 billion trade surplus with Washington as a central reason for the ongoing tension between the two nations.

The spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce responded by promising that Beijing will keep watching America’s actions closely. China said openly that it will take any necessary actions needed to protect its own interests and rights in the face of what it called unfair American policies.

In response to earlier US tariffs put in place by President Trump’s administration, China already imposed their own limited tariffs on American goods. Additionally, China reacted strongly this past week when Washington blamed it for failing to stop fentanyl trafficking. China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson stated clearly that America was using the fentanyl issue as just an excuse for more tariffs against Chinese products.

The very next day, China’s Commerce Ministry released another statement against proposed American measures aimed at China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. According to Beijing, these US measures would damage both sides economically. China openly urged America to stick to international rules, stop taking damaging actions, and “respect the facts.”

China calls out US State Department over updated fact sheet

On Thursday, Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, criticized the US State Department’s new fact sheet on China, which the American government updated online on February 13. Guo spoke during his regular press briefing in Beijing, calling the State Department’s update an “attack” on China and accusing America of twisting the truth about the two countries’ relations.

Guo directly told the US government: “We strongly deplore and firmly oppose it,” and he further demanded Washington to “stop misleading the US people and the international community” and to “stop smearing and putting pressure on China.”

The updated fact sheet, published on the State Department’s official website, now clearly emphasizes the economic rivalry between America and China. The US government document directly says it wants a future economy free from “untrusted technology from China and other authoritarian states.”

In contrast, the older version of the fact sheet listed multiple areas where America and China cooperated, like fighting pandemics, stopping drug trafficking, and improving environmental standards. Now, the new version removed all these cooperative areas completely.

Guo further criticized the new US language, saying it pushes a dangerous idea of constant strategic competition between America and China instead of encouraging any form of cooperation.

Interestingly, Trump’s own approach toward China remains somewhat mixed. Although he often praises Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally, Trump has surrounded himself with advisers who are openly aggressive toward China.

For example, Marco, Trump’s Secretary of State, is famously tough on China. He is the first US Secretary of State ever to be officially sanctioned by China. Trump’s national security adviser, Mike, openly said back in 2021 that America was in “a Cold War with the Chinese Communist Party.”

The State Department’s fact sheet update also included a smaller but symbolic change: it now refers to the country simply as “China,” removing the full name “People’s Republic of China,” which was used consistently before.

On the very same day, the State Department also changed its official fact sheet on Taiwan. Before, the US clearly stated that it “does not support Taiwan independence,” a phrase repeatedly demanded by Beijing from all countries that have diplomatic ties with it. Now, that phrase has disappeared entirely from the Taiwan fact sheet. The timing of these two simultaneous changes strongly suggests a coordinated American approach.

China directly sees these updates as further proof of America pushing competition over cooperation. With these updated documents, the US government sent a strong political message, making it clear they see China mainly as a competitor rather than as a partner.

The Ministry of Commerce, meanwhile, remains firm in its response. Beijing promised again it would closely watch every move America makes and said openly it would respond firmly to any new restrictions.

China clearly stated it believes the US is damaging not only Chinese companies and investments but also hurting America itself through these political actions. The Chinese government argues openly that turning trade into a political weapon will lead to negative economic effects for both countries.

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