US President Donald Trump said he would prefer not to have to impose tariffs on China, his latest dovish remark toward the world’s second-biggest economy even as he continues to threaten sweeping action.
Asked if he could stop the Chinese president from taking Taiwan and reach a trade agreement, Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the US had a “very big power over China, and that’s tariffs, and they don’t want them.”
“And I’d rather not have to use it. But it’s a tremendous power over China,” he said in the interview that aired on Thursday.
Photo: AFP
Trump has wielded tariffs as a frequent threat against friends and adversaries, while promising voters that the additional revenue would help fund his domestic priorities.
On his second day in office, he threatened to put 10 percent tariffs on China as soon as Saturday next week for allowing fentanyl to “pour” into the US.
Markets have taken it as a positive sign that Trump stopped short of imposing tariffs on China in his first days in office, and his recent threats were softer than those issued last year. During his presidential campaign, the Republican floated additional levies on China of about 60 percent.
The yuan extended gains and rose 0.6 percent in both onshore and offshore markets after Trump’s latest comments. Chinese stocks also extended gains, with the benchmark CSI 300 Index ending the day up 0.8 percent.
In Beijing, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) yesterday said there were “huge common interests” between the US and China.
“The two sides should step up dialogue and consultation,” she said at a regular press briefing.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: An official said that Guan Guan’s comments had gone beyond the threshold of free speech, as she advocated for the destruction of the ROC China-born media influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China content that threatens national security, the National Immigration Agency said yesterday. Guan Guan has said many controversial things in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” while expressing hope for expedited “reunification.” The agency received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification last year. After investigating, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and account for her actions. Guan Guan appeared as required,
Japan and the Philippines yesterday signed a defense pact that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, triggering a military response. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East and South China
A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently
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