The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has reaffirmed China’s resolve to defend its legitimate interests amid the ongoing trade war with the United States. Speaking at a recent press conference in Abuja, alongside Minister’s Counsellor for Political Affairs Zhang Yi and Business Affairs Counsellor Wang Yingqi, Yu criticized what he described as America’s growing global isolationism and aggressive economic posture. He stated that appeasement was not a viable solution to the tensions.
Ambassador Zhang Yi condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, describing the trade war as not only targeted at China but as a broader rejection of global cooperation. He said the United States was undermining its credibility on the world stage and showing a level of selfishness that had become apparent to the international community. Zhang emphasized that a significant portion of U.S. imports from China, estimated at 60 to 70 percent, are products manufactured by American companies in China due to the country’s lower labor costs and higher investment returns.
Yu stressed that China is transitioning toward high-quality development, prioritizing technology and domestic consumption as new drivers of economic growth. He criticized the U.S. approach to international relations, calling it arrogant and hegemonic, and accused Washington of discarding diplomacy in favor of economic aggression. According to Yu, the United States has launched a global tariff war in pursuit of unilateral interests, sacrificing the global common good and igniting widespread disapproval.
Highlighting China’s domestic strength, Yu noted that the country’s economy expanded by 5.4% in the first quarter of the year and that China has been a key contributor to global economic growth, accounting for around 30 percent of global expansion over the past decade. He cited the support of China’s 1.4 billion citizens and the nation’s complete industrial infrastructure as pillars of resilience in the face of external pressures.
Yu also pointed to the strengthening of bilateral ties between China and Nigeria, referencing President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Beijing, which resulted in the elevation of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. He revealed that ongoing efforts are being made to expand Chinese imports of Nigerian goods, particularly in the oil sector, as part of deepening economic cooperation between the two nations.