【Epoch Times April 30, 2025】The US-China trade war continues to escalate, with reports suggesting that the Chinese Communist Party has quietly lowered tariffs on some American goods, leading to accusations of quietly “softening” its stance under pressure. However, a bilingual promotional video titled “No Kneeling!” was released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on WeChat yesterday, claiming that they will not compromise in the face of US-initiated tariff sanctions. The video immediately sparked ridicule from the public, with experts pointing out that this video serves a domestic purpose for the CCP, but also indicates a sense of self-exposure.
The video released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, starting with an image of the “Eye of the Storm,” depicts the United States triggering a global tariff storm, but completely avoids mentioning the US accusations of unfair trade practices against China. It also accuses the US of playing a “90-day reprieve” game with China and warns that it is a deadly trap that will lead to more severe conflicts. The video also fails to mention how China took the lead in retaliating against the US and escalating the trade war.
Citing examples from Japan and France, the video emphasizes that “succumbing to hegemony is like quenching thirst with poison,” stating that kneeling will only lead to escalating tensions, concluding with “China will not kneel!”
The video also includes footage from the Korean War and Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou’s return in 2021, portraying them as symbols of China’s “resistance.”
This bilingual subtitled video was not only released on mainland Chinese networks but also on April 29th on the official Weibo account @MFA_China, which is only accessible to mainland Chinese people by “climbing the wall.”
During yesterday’s routine press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the message behind “No Kneeling!”, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed that they hope the video will help various parties better understand China’s stance.
According to Fox News, the timing of this video’s release coincides with President Trump’s 100th day in office, which is a direct response from China to Trump’s new trade policy.
President Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports this month, while suspending tariffs for 90 days on all other countries, effectively isolating the CCP. As a result of China’s retaliatory actions, they have imposed a 125% tariff on American goods. Analysts believe that China is at a disadvantage in the tariff war.
In response to the video released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most comments on the tightly controlled mainland Weibo platform are praising, but some netizens have expressed dissenting opinions.
“Xuanyuan Erbao”: “The term ‘No Kneeling’ used here is not satisfactory, giving a sense of lowering one’s dignity.”
“Liutiezheng 1314”: “Saying ‘No Kneeling’ doesn’t mean you don’t want to kneel in your heart, or that you will just stand, you can also lie or sit down, what’s more, even if you stand, you can ‘lean against the wall.'”
Overseas Chinese netizens have mocked:
“Only slaves would come up with the phrase ‘No Kneeling.'”
“The grand narrative! No talk about a large number of people losing their jobs!”
“Chinese goods still cannot be sold.”
“When they ask you to talk, you don’t talk (secretly kneel) and still say you don’t kneel. Your level as a propaganda writer for the Chinese government is only equivalent to a third-grader, can’t get any higher.”
“The Chinese government would rather have the people eat grass for three years than let Xi Jinping lose face.”
“From the lofty ambition of leading mankind to the tragic performance of ‘No Kneeling,’ the role change is a bit extreme?”
Taiwanese senior political and economic commentator Wu Jialong told Epoch Times that this video is actually a domestic propaganda tool used by the CCP to say that “we still have backbone, we won’t kneel.” However, it also indicates a sense of self-exposure, “no one asked you to kneel, but you yourself came out to say you won’t kneel, which is equivalent to admitting that you have already knelt.”
Historian Li Yuanhua, living in Australia, told Epoch Times that this kind of video from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a wolf-warrior approach, showing a posture of wanting to bite, primarily because domestically, they need to manipulate the Chinese people to endure hardships to resist the US trade war. However, people are becoming increasingly awakened and not easily fooled.
The Chinese authorities have consistently claimed that they will “accompany to the end” in the trade war with the US. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reprinted a speech by former CCP leader Mao Zedong during the Korean War (called the Korean War by the Chinese, the Resistance War Against America and Aid Korea). At the time, Mao said, “They want to fight for how long, and we will fight for how long, keep fighting until we completely win!”
However, recent signs of China quietly softening have emerged.
Chinese and American media previously reported that the Chinese customs authorities have quietly reduced tariffs on 8 types of US integrated circuits from 125% to zero. However, related reports in Chinese media were quickly removed.
Bloomberg reported on April 29th that the Chinese government is considering suspending the 125% tariffs on some US imports (such as medical equipment and industrial chemicals). Chinese officials are also discussing exemptions for airplane lease taxes.
China is the world’s largest plastic manufacturing country, but some factories rely on ethane imported from the US. Chinese hospitals also require medical equipment such as MRI and ultrasound machines produced in the US. As Chinese airlines do not own all the aircraft, they have to pay leasing fees to third-party companies to use some aircraft. If tariffs are imposed, these costs will cause significant economic losses to China.
Reuters reported that the US products that China may exempt include more than 130 types, including vaccines, chemicals, and jet engines.
Beijing has placed dozens of US companies on a trade control list and initiated an antitrust investigation against chemical giant DuPont, as well as ordered airlines not to accept orders for Boeing planes. However, this week, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing is willing to support normal commercial cooperation with American companies. Beijing officials acknowledged that tariffs have severely affected both Chinese airlines and Boeing. The Wall Street Journal believes that China is extending an olive branch to American companies.
Wu Jialong explained that the senior Chinese leadership misjudged Trump, combined with nationalist sentiments, resulting in a stubborn decision to wage a tariff war against the US. Now, the CCP probably realizes that they misjudged Trump.
Wu Jialong elaborated that in the past, China sold low to mid-range products to buy higher-end products from others. By aggressively engaging in a trade war, China fell into Trump’s trap, which they now realize is not favorable. Initially, China believed that Trump, being a businessman, could be bribed, traded with, and pressured; however, they have discovered that’s not the case. Therefore, they are making some adjustments quietly, but it might be too late.
“Now the situation is serious. First, Xi Jinping has no chance of kneeling, and even if he did, it wouldn’t work,” he said.
Historian Li Yuanhua told Epoch Times that in reality, China relies on the US. The CCP is employing flexible methods to reduce some tariffs to address urgent issues discreetly, without openly admitting it, and still wants to maintain a tough, anti-US stance.
Regarding whether the CCP has quietly contacted US officials, both sides have conflicting statements.
Trump recently stated in an interview with Time magazine that the US and China are negotiating about tariffs, revealing that Xi Jinping has called him. However, the Chinese side vehemently denies this.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated in a regular press conference on April 28 that the US and China’s leaders “have not recently had a phone call.” He stated that “there has been no discussion or negotiation on tariff issues recently.”
According to the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, around 7 am on the 24th, a high-ranking official from the Chinese Ministry of Finance, accompanied by about 10 entourage members, entered the US Treasury building. The Chinese personnel vigorously prevented reporters from taking photos, even demanding that they delete the photos already taken. The Chinese official mentioned in the report is believed to be the Chinese Minister of Finance, Lian Fo’an, attending the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in the US at the time.
On Monday of this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed during an interview with ABC’s This Week program that the high-level economic officials from both the US and China had a meeting in Washington. Despite China’s denials, Bessent believes that China is “playing to a different audience.”
Wu Jialong told Epoch Times that there is a saying that there are two factions within the CCP, one representing Xi doesn’t want to negotiate, but the other faction has gone to negotiate. However, this claim is difficult to verify.
Wu Jialong believes that Trump’s real target is not Xi Jinping but the CCP. The one-party system determines the distribution of national interests, without political system reform, the US cannot reintegrate China into globalization, which is the essence of the matter.