ISTANBUL

China said Friday it will take resolute countermeasures against the US if Washington continues its "arbitrary" pressure.

Chinese-US business relations are "reciprocal" and cooperation is beneficial for both sides, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a news conference on the sidelines of the 14th National People's Congress, adding that "China will definitely take countermeasures in response to arbitrary pressure.”

The US earlier imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, citing the flow of fentanyl into the US.

“The US should not return good with evil, or even impose arbitrary tariffs on Chinese products,” Wang said. “The abuse of fentanyl in the United States is a problem that must be confronted and resolved by the US itself.”

Wang also called Taiwan an “inalienable part” of China, citing UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognizes China as the "only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations," preventing Taiwan from being designated as a separate country.

“Seeking 'Taiwan independence' is doomed to backfire, and using Taiwan to contain China will be nothing but a futile attempt,” Wang said, adding that “China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable.”

The foreign minister also expressed “firm” opposition to the US supplying Asia with medium-range missiles, saying that the US’ “Indo-Pacific Strategy” has done “nothing” for regional countries “except for stirring up trouble and creating disputes.”

His remarks alluded to the US deployment of medium-range Typhon missiles to the Philippines, which has been a point of contention between the two countries for months.

Wang also reiterated Beijing’s position as an advocate of peace since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, stating that China’s aim is to “create conditions for the resolution of the crisis.”

He expressed China’s readiness to cooperate with the international community and relevant sides to play a “constructive role” in helping to resolve the conflict.