Watch: China sends defiant 'never kneel down' message to Trump over tariffs

UPDATED: Apr 30, 2025 04:44 IST

China has released a video titled “Never Kneel Down”, vowing not to bow to President Donald Trump’s trade tactics and positioning itself as a champion of the global economy.

The clip, released on Tuesday by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and widely promoted on social media, is laced with nationalistic imagery — high-tech factories, rocket launches, and sweeping orchestral music — all bragging about China's strength.

The video’s message is blunt, "China won’t back down so the voices of the weak will be heard When the rest of the world stands together in solidarity, the US is just a small stranded boat." The video comprises subtitles in both Mandarin and English to amplify the message for a global audience.

The video marks a continuation of China’s strategy to reframe the ongoing trade war not just as a bilateral dispute, but as a global test of economic fairness and international order.

"Someone has to step forward, torch in hand, to shatter the fog and illuminate the path ahead," the video says.

Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun thanked viewers for engaging with the ministry’s social media outreach, "We hope this video could help all parties better understand China’s position."

The video comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call on BRICS nations to resist making side deals with the US, warning that appeasement would only embolden what he called a “bully.”

Earlier this month, China also circulated satirical AI-generated clips showing overweight Americans in factory settings — a jab at US labor conditions amid the escalating trade dispute.

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