China has called on the United States to abandon its use of the "China threat" rhetoric as justification for unilateral actions, following Washington's controversial tariff announcement linked to Greenland. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing's position during a January 19 briefing, emphasizing that "international law based on UN Charter principles remains the cornerstone of global order."
The remarks came in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent declaration of escalating tariffs on eight European nations starting February 1, 2026. The proposed measures would impose 10% duties on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland, potentially rising to 25% by June unless negotiations succeed regarding U.S. territorial acquisition ambitions in Greenland.
"Some countries continue to fabricate security threats while pursuing selfish geopolitical agendas," Guo stated, without directly naming the U.S. administration. Analysts suggest the Greenland issue has become a flashpoint in broader discussions about Arctic resource competition and international governance frameworks.
