China risks its moral high ground in escalating trade tensions

When you occupy the moral high ground, the last thing you should do is fling yourself off and tarnish your reputation… yet that is exactly what China has just done as tempers fray in the Donald Trump-initiated global trade war.

Beijing’s stance since the insane tariffs orders by Trump began a few weeks ago was that Washington was trying to bully the rest of the world into compliance – but that China would not back down.

Retaliation that mirrors the aggressor

Yet, now the Chinese are doing much the same thing, clearly because they are peeved that their trading partners – also threatened by the tariffs – are kissing Trump’s feet to make favourable deals.

These countries, China said yesterday, would face countermeasures. In other words, we will stand up to the bully and if you don’t also do so, we will bully you.

Of course, the two biggest bullies in any trade war will be those with the biggest economies – the US and China.

That threat from Beijing will make it only too clear to its potential trade partners that the Chinese could be just as reliable as Trump… not the sort of stability you need in any business relationship.

China shouldn’t let emotions ruin its improving image.

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