JAKARTA - The Chinese government said it would still protect its interests in response to US President Donald Trump's statement that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all countries that still trade with Iran.
"The tariff war has no winner. China will resolutely protect its legitimate and legal rights and interests," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing, Tuesday, January 13, reported by ANTARA.
Donald Trump on Monday (12/1) announced the imposition of tariffs of 25 percent on all countries that still trade with Iran. Through his Truth Social account, Trump said the tariffs were immediate and final and binding even though there were no details about their implementation.
Trump has repeatedly said he would attack Iran if Tehran used excessive force to quell protests in the country, but White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Washington chose to take diplomatic action first with Iran.
Large protest actions have taken place in Iran since late December 2025 due to the deterioration of the local currency. The demonstrators highlighted the sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate of the rial and its impact on wholesale and retail prices. Iran is currently facing severe economic pressure with high inflation rates of 38.9 percent.
In a number of cities, protests escalated into clashes with police and were accompanied by calls to oppose the prevailing political system.
The number of deaths due to protests in Iran has risen to 646, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Monday. In addition, as many as 10,721 people have been arrested by the 16th day of national protests in the country.
"China hopes Iran will maintain stability in its country and support Iran in that regard. We have always opposed interference in the internal affairs of other countries and opposed the use or threat of violence in international relations," added Mao Ning.
He also said China hopes all parties will act in a way that is conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.
"We are closely following the developments in Iran. We will take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens," said Mao Ning.
China is known to be one of Iran's largest export partners, especially for oil.
From January to October 2025, Iran exported 14 billion US dollars to China based on data from the Iranian Customs Administration. In addition, there are still other Iranian export destination countries such as Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Even so, Iran's exports to China have fallen sharply from 2021-2025 following concerns about US government sanctions.
China bought only $2.9 billion worth of Iranian goods in the first 11 months of last year, according to China's latest customs figures, compared with $21 billion in 2018 during Trump's first presidency.
After the meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping in October 2025, both parties agreed to implement low tariffs, namely a tariff of 10 percent on Chinese products to the US and a tariff on US products to China of 10-15 percent until November 10, 2026, but with other import duties, the effective tariff for Chinese goods to the US remains above 30 percent.
If tariffs on Iran are actually implemented, Chinese goods in the US market could be subject to tariffs of up to 55 percent.
Since January 8, following a call from Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979, protests have intensified in Iran.
In addition to Tehran, such demonstrations also took place in other cities, including Kerman, Zahedan, and Birjand in eastern Iran.
Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of backing what they call "armed rioters," who have carried out several attacks on public places across the country.
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