China will take "all necessary measures" to defend its rights and interests, an official from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on March 22.
The ministry was responding to media reports that the United States will soon release the results of a Section 301 investigation against China and impose trade sanctions worth US$60 billion.
"China will absolutely not sit back and watch its rights and interests be damaged," said an unnamed official in charge of the ministry's treaty and law department, Xinhua net reports.
“China does not want a trade war, but is not afraid of a trade war. China is confident and capable of meeting all kinds of challenges. China hopes that the US will make a careful decision and not put bilateral economic and trade relations in a dangerous situation.” the MOC stated.