Ancient wisdom echoes world support for China's response to US tariffs

A Chinese saying from The Book of Mencius goes, "A just cause wins support, while an unjust one loses it." This timeless wisdom reflects the Chinese people's long-standing belief that justice fosters unity and leads to victory, while injustice results in isolation and defeat. Recently, the comments section of the BBC News YouTube channel vividly illustrated how this enduring wisdom of ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius (372-289 BC) continues to resonate today.

A BBC report on China's decision to raise tariffs on US imports to 84 percent, effective from 12:01 p.m. on April 10, in response to the US move to increase reciprocal tariffs, sparked widespread discussion on YouTube. Viewers from various countries expressed strong approval for China's measured and principled countermeasures, praising the country for standing firm against the US tariff bullying.

One viewer, reportedly from Canada, humorously commented, "If you had told me a year ago that one day I would be cheering on China and criticizing the US I would have said you were insane. Yet here we are."

The comment, which earned 13,000 likes, was echoed by others from around the world, including India, Australia, Europe, Britain, Japan, and Singapore.

Among the comments was a frank message from a South Korean viewer, whose message is translated as saying: "As a neighboring country, we have had long-standing economic and cultural exchanges (with China), and at one point, we were allies. It is unfortunate that we cannot grow closer today due to ideological differences. However, as an East Asian, I find it admirable and a source of pride that there is an Eastern nation capable of standing up to and responding to a superpower in such a situation. I support the people of China, the big brother of the East."

Many viewers applauded China's commitment to justice, criticizing the United States for its "tariff robbery" and praising China's prompt and principled response. One viewer stated, "China is showing the entire world what having backbone looks like," while another said, "Thank you China! On this planet, most countries choose to kneel to the USA, and are competing to see who kneels more gracefully. Only China insists on justice and says no to the tariff robbery. China insists on justice, not only for itself, but also to tell people that there is still justice in this world."

At the same time, numerous voices condemned the United States' imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" and called for more countries to take action. From comments like "The fact is the world is fed up with a weaponized dollar" to "Hats off to China. This is how a world leader should act," the global resonance of China's actions reflects a shared belief in justice and integrity.

While some may argue for rationality and objectivity in this case, it's clear that the move by the United State violates World Trade Organization regulations and undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system. China's opposition and countermeasures are not only in defense of its own interests but also of the multilateral system and international justice.

As history has shown countless times, justice will ultimately prevail.