There is no future in a trade war between China and the United States, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference on Monday, stressing that trade and the DPRK issue should not be linked. Hua made the remarks amid speculation that the US may launch an investigation into Chinese trade practices in an effort to pressure Beijing on the DPRK crisis. "The Korean Peninsula and trade are different issues. The two nations should respect each other and enhance cooperation over these issues," said Hua. "It's highly inappropriate to use one issue to put pressure on the other."