China refutes US accusations on tariffs, intellectual property issue

BEIJING - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday said US accusations of higher Chinese tariffs on American goods and pilfering American innovations are wrong.

Hua made the statement when asked to comment on remarks given by US Vice President Mike Pence at the US Department of Commerce Monday, accusing China of levying tariffs on American goods three times higher than US tariffs on Chinese goods, and of stealing American innovations.

Hua said China always upholds fair trade and is advancing a new round of opening up in order to create an open, transparent, and fair business environment.

However, the United States made various excuses and even used reasons as national security to create obstacles and restrictions on China's ordinary investment and business activities in the United States, she said.

Referring to US accusations on China stealing intellectual property, Hua said it is a serious distortion of reality, as China is firmly implementing an innovation-driven development strategy.

"China's achievements in innovation have been made by the wisdom and hard work of the Chinese people," she stressed.

Hua said the trade frictions, initially provoked by the United States, are, in fact, a war between unilateralism and multilateralism, protectionism and free trade, as well as power and rules.

"It is the strong consensus and determination of the international community to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights, and uphold the multilateral trade rules and systems," Hua said.

She said the US move not only targeted China, but also regarded the whole world as an enemy, which will drag the global economy into danger, adding that the trade disputes will inhibit the growth momentum of global trade, impact the confidence of all parties in world economy, and endanger the well-being of all people.

"It is typical unilateralism and zero-sum thinking to launch trade wars for domestic political considerations and for one's own interests," Hua said.