BEIJING – Pressure and threats from the United States will not resolve the ongoing China-US trade dispute, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday, calling for a return to fair dialogue.

While China remains open to talks, any talks must be based on mutual respect and conducted on an equal footing, Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said at a press briefing.

If the US is bent on waging a trade war, China will fight to the end, she added.

“Pressure, threats and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China. We hope that the two countries will meet each other halfway and work towards resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, guided by the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.”

FULL TEXT: China’s Position on Some Issues Concerning China-US Economic and Trade Relations

Stressing that there are no winners in a trade war and that protectionism leads nowhere, the spokesperson said that China will never accept the US tactic of maximum pressure and bullying and will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

Amid widespread opposition from both within the US and the international community to the US so-called "reciprocal tariffs", Beijing urges Washington to lift these unilateral tariff measures as soon as possible, said He.

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She also called on the US to correct its misguided actions and help create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and consultation.

‘China won’t flinch’

Addressing a separate press briefing in the Chinese capital the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China does not want to fight trade and tariff wars, but will not flinch when a trade and tariff war comes.

He was speaking hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose more tariffs on imported Chinese products.

Taking necessary countermeasures against US bullying is not only about protecting China's sovereignty, security and development interests, but also about upholding international fairness and justice, defending the multilateral trading system, and safeguarding the common interests of the international community, he said.

“A just cause enjoys the support of many," Lin said, noting that the US actions are unpopular and will end in failure.

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"We will never sit idly by and watch while the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people are infringed, nor will we sit idly by as international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system are undermined.”

He stressed that if the US side insists on a tariff war or a trade war, China will fight to the end.

The US puts its own interests above the interests of the international community and serves its hegemonic interests at the expense of the legitimate interests of countries around the world, which will inevitably meet with stronger opposition from the international community, added the spokesperson.