When he arrived in Beijing on Thursday for his two-day visit, China vehemently defended Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following our criticism, saying that Spain’s reconciliation with China is similar to “cutting your own throat.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Jiang Liang accused them of “abusing tariffs and threatening and coercing the entire world” and accusing them of trying to force political threats “by strangle other countries.”
“The alliance with Beijing is a suicide,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, who criticized Sanchez’s visit to China, who is unhappy with the EU’s decision to strengthen relations with Asian countries in light of the Spanish-Donald Trump trade war.
Sanchez defends the visit to China as a strategic move in line with the EU’s goals, highlighting the need for global unity and multilateralism.
The Spanish Prime Minister has overturned a tariff war on dozens of countries, except for Beijing, which is the first EU leader to visit China since Trump began, and which is then facing a 125% obligation on all goods heading towards the United States.
In China, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez said: “China and India are important commercial partners in Europe. It is essential to maintain dialogue and develop European trade policies that take into account new allies.”
China has expressed its solid commitment to Spain. Jin Lian said bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $50 billion in 2024. He added that Spain’s exports to China increased by 4.3% last year.
China and the US trade war
For now, after Trump’s 90-day tariff deferral, the trade war is only between the US and China.
However, his Yong Kian, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, proposed a possible negotiation.
“China’s position is clear and consistent,” he said. “If the US wants to start a talk, our doors will always be open. But these talks need to be mutually respectful and beneficial.”
But he also warned the United States. “If the US wants to fight, we will respond firmly. Pressure, intimidation, and coercion are not the right ways to deal with China.”
Sanchez’s arrival in China followed a visit to Vietnam, where he signed numerous agreements, including boosting bilateral trade to $8 billion each year.
