China 'Boiling' Over US Attacks, But Restrains from Direct Confrontation

- Hwa Chunying, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, "Hope Americans Win the Fight Against COVID-19"... Mentions Anti-Epidemic Supplies Provided to the US
- Bloomberg "US-China Trade Negotiators May Hold Phone Call as Early as Next Week"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park]Amid ongoing overt warnings and attacks by the United States against China, China is refraining from direct confrontation and focusing on efforts to correct distorted facts. Both the U.S. and China are leaving room for dialogue and cooperation, drawing attention to whether tensions will ease further following a phone call between trade negotiation representatives next week.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 8th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying conveyed a message at the regular briefing the previous day that China still supports the U.S. in overcoming COVID-19.

Spokesperson Hua said, "China hopes that the American people will quickly win the war against COVID-19. We will continue efforts to support and cooperate with the world, including Americans, in fighting COVID-19." Citing Chinese customs statistics, she stated, "From March 1 to May 5, China provided the U.S. with 6.6 billion masks, 344 million pairs of protective gloves, 44.09 million protective suits, 6.75 million protective goggles, and 7,500 respirators." She added, "Separately, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region donated 6,000 masks and 4,000 gloves through the U.S. military's FTHO organization, symbolizing the friendship between the two countries." Spokesperson Hua also posted related content on her Twitter account.

At the same day's briefing, Hua pointed out, "If the United States, which has the most advanced medical technology in the world, had responded proactively, it would have performed better in epidemic prevention than China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's 'COVID-19 Wuhan Institute origin theory' is inconsistent," but mentioning China's support to the U.S. is interpreted as an indication that China still does not want a direct confrontation with the U.S.

Some speculate that China could retaliate against U.S. attacks through measures such as selling U.S. Treasury bonds, failing to comply with trade agreements, or imposing sanctions on American companies, but China has only continued to criticize the U.S. through state media, refraining from direct confrontation and not revealing any cards.

The U.S., while continuing its attacks on China, is also leaving the door open for negotiations and dialogue.

Regarding the COVID-19 situation, Secretary Pompeo, who has repeatedly raised the 'China responsibility theory' strongly, said in an interview with CNBC on the 7th (local time), "If China is interested in protecting intellectual property rights and mutually beneficial trade, there will be a way to do so." Earlier, he also stepped back from the Wuhan Institute origin theory of the virus, saying he could not be certain.

Attention is also focused on whether the frozen U.S.-China relationship can be eased through a phone call between trade negotiation representatives next week.

Bloomberg News, citing sources, reported that as early as next week, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are scheduled to have a phone call. If the two trade negotiation representatives hold a phone call, it will be the first dialogue since the signing of the Phase 1 trade agreement in January this year. At the time of the Phase 1 trade agreement signing in January, both sides agreed to contact each other every six months to discuss related issues, but if the phone call takes place next week, it means the schedule is being moved up to engage in dialogue earlier than planned.

Sources said the main topic of the phone call between the two countries' trade negotiation representatives will be the progress of the Phase 1 trade agreement implementation. U.S. President Donald Trump also responded to White House reporters' questions on the 6th regarding China's implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement, saying, "We should be able to report within about one or two weeks whether China is fulfilling its obligations," leaving open the possibility of dialogue between the two sides soon on the trade agreement implementation issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.