CHINA on Thursday vowed to fight “till the very end” if the Untied States insists on unilateralism and trade protectionism.

“As of now, government officials of the two countries have never engaged in any negotiations concerning the trade friction,” said Gao Feng, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce. “We can’t talk under the unilateral threat from the United States,” he said.

Gao said recent opening-up measures announced by China have nothing to do with pressure from ongoing trade conflicts with the United States.

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday vowed to open China’s economy further and lower import duties on goods such as cars. U.S. President Donald Trump responded in a tweet saying he was “thankful” for Xi’s remarks on tariffs and access for U.S. automakers, and said both countries would “make great progress together.”

Gao said, however, that Xi’s remarks had nothing to do with the trade row and should not be mischaracterized as a concession to the United States.

“I hope some people in the United States do not misjudge the situation,” he said. “If the United States takes any action to escalate the situation, China will not hesitate to fight back.”

Gao said that the Chinese Government has never intervened to require foreign companies to share their proprietary technology as a condition of doing business in the country.(SD-Agencies)