Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Kiribati Zhao Jian published a signed article titled U.S. Tariffs Harm Both Others and Itself, China and Kiribati Shall Join Hands to Oppose Bullying on Kiribati newspaper Te Uekera. The full text is as follows:
The U.S. government is wielding the bludgeon of unilateralism globally under the pretext of so-called "reciprocal tariffs," artificially creating a "tariff tornado" sweeping across the world. Even small economies like Kiribati face a 10% tariff hike. This not only blatantly tramples on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), but also degenerates the international economic and trade order into the "law of the jungle" where the strong prey on the weak. Such bullying behavior deserves our high attention and firmly opposition. To clarify the severe dangers of U.S. actions and strengthen our determination to oppose the U.S. economic bullying, I would like to emphasize the following points:
First, the U.S. reckless tariff imposition has triggered global economic shocks, with innocent people of Pacific island countries bearing the brunt. In the short term, these measures severely disrupt global trade logistics, directly increase international shipping costs, fragment the "global village" into "isolated islets." For island countries highly reliant on imports, this is akin to a "blockbuster bomb" – raising import costs and driving price surges. In the long term, U.S. tariff policies will undermine the stability of global industrial and supply chains, dramatically increase multinational production and operational costs, disrupt smooth global industrial chains, trigger stock market turbulence, and potentially spark recessions. This may further reduce worldwide demand for island countries’ marine exports like tuna, and lead to a sharp drop in investment and tourism to island countries. It will also seriously affect the returns of island countries' sovereign funds investing overseas, reduce tourism and fiscal revenues, severely damage the island countries' economies, and slow down their development pace. Recently, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) warned that U.S. tariffs would weaken developing and least-developed countries' ability to participate in global trade, disproportionately harming the most vulnerable economies. Alarmingly, history shows economic depressions may indirectly trigger military conflicts.
Second, America’s bullying tariffs have boomeranged back, those who play with fire will perish by it. Since the U.S. government announced its so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on April 2, pessimism over the U.S. economic outlook has surged domestically and abroad, sparking fierce opposition across sectors. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently stated that the rationale for the tariffs is "unclear and not at all sensible," leaving American families and businesses "unable to plan for the future." Adam Posen, President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, warned that the tariff policies have raised the probability of a U.S. economic recession to 65%. Nearly 1,000 signatories, including Nobel laureates James Heckman and Vernon Smith, endorsed an Anti-Tariff Declaration, condemning the measures as “misguided” and likely to trigger a “self-inflicted recession.” The New York Times data shows that foreign countermeasures could threaten 8 million U.S. jobs, while Goldman Sachs slashed its U.S. growth forecasts from 2.4% to 1.7%. Global countermeasures intensify: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed strong trade retaliation, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged not to make major compromises in negotiations, and Canadian provinces have boycotted U.S. goods. The immediate market response to U.S. tariffs was a “Triple Kill” in Stocks, Bonds, and Currencies. U.S. stocks plunged 5-6%, the U.S. Dollar Index continued to decline after breaking the psychological support level at 100, and 10-year U.S. Treasury yields fluctuated wildly. As Belgium's L'Echo noted, the U.S. “reciprocal tariffs” risk dismantling international rules, a danger that will ultimately boomerang back through global supply chain realignment to cripple the U.S. economy.
Third, China neither seeks nor fears tariff wars, standing firmly on the side of justice to defend its own development rights and interests as well as global fairness and justice. China possesses the capability and confidence to meet challenges, anchored in the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the institutional strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the robust foundation forged through decades of sustained growth, a vast domestic market with comprehensive industrial chains, and the united endeavors of over 1.4 billion people. External shocks cannot undermine China’s fundamental economic strengths—stability, diversified advantages, resilience, and vast potential—nor derail its steadfast progress in high-quality development and the vigorous expansion of new quality productive forces. As the primary trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions, China has maintained its position as the world's largest trading nation in goods during the past eight years. Deutsche Bank research indicates that exports to the U.S. now account for merely 3% of China’s GDP. Further analysis by Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reveals that domestic consumption constitutes 55% of China’s GDP, forming a robust "shock absorber" against external disruptions.
The resilience of China's economy stems from its unwavering commitment to genuine multilateralism, mutual benefit and shared gains in trade, and its foreign policy of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, all of which are integral to advancing a community with a shared future for mankind. In recent years, China has proactively expanded imports, repeatedly implemented substantial voluntary tariff cuts, and granted zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including Kiribati. This open approach stands in stark contrast to the hegemonic practices of wielding a "tariff bludgeon and aid withdrawal." Confronting recent U.S. tariff bludgeon, China has resolutely stood up to against hegemonic power, swiftly and forcefully implementing a series of countermeasures. This is not only an inevitable choice to safeguard China’s legitimate rights and interests, but also a moral act to safeguard global fairness and justice, maintain international rules and order, and safeguard the development rights of all countries. China expressed its serious concerns at the WTO about the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" imposed by the United States, which resonated strongly with all parties. 46 WTO members, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and others, made statements echoing China's position. By unequivocally rejecting unilateralism and protectionism, China has objectively compelled the U.S. to temporarily suspend planned tariff hikes on multiple countries and products, granting affected parties critical negotiation space and response time. China's swift, precise, and resolute countermeasures have further forced Washington to weigh the costs of defying global consensus.
As President Xi Jinping emphasized: "One will not be seen in a more favourable light after blowing out others’ lamp; nor will they go farther by blocking others’ paths." The wheels of history cannot be reversed. The hard-won international economic and trade rules and order demand our collective safeguarding. China fully understands Kiribati’s concerns in climate change and sustainable development, and will continue supporting its efforts to uphold economic sovereignty and enhance development resilience through concrete actions, remaining Kiribati’s good friend, good partner and good brother. China stands ready to join Kiribati on the right side of history, working together to forge a better world free from bullying and brimming with shared prosperity for generations to come.
