Washington/Beijing — Tensions between the United States and China have flared once again after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised Li Chenggang, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, for being “uncontrolled” and “disrespectful” during his recent visit to Washington.
Speaking t a press conference on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, Bessent accused Li of breaching diplomatic protocol and engaging in inflammatory rhetoric during his August visit to Washington.
“The deputy minister who arrived in Washington with such provocative language acted well beyond his mandate,” Bessent said. “He was not formally invited by the Trump administration, and his manner was deeply disrespectful to standard diplomatic conduct.”
These unusually blunt remarks further strain the already fragile relations between the world’s two largest economies, which remain locked in a bitter trade standoff over tariffs, technology access and maritime restrictions.
Li Chenggang, aged 58, was appointed Vice Minister of Commerce and China’s new Trade Envoy in April 2025, shortly after President Donald Trump implemented sweeping new tariffs under his “Liberation Day Tariffs” policy — an aggressive move that has reshaped global supply chains and triggered a wave of retaliatory measures from Beijing.
According to an official statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the purpose of Li’s visit to Washington was to “promote mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win–win cooperation”. The ministry described the trip as part of a broader effort to reopen channels of dialogue between the two governments, following months of escalating tension.
However, Bessent offered a sharply different account, alleging that Li’s private meetings with US officials were 'dominated by threats and intimidation'. The Treasury Secretary claimed that Li had warned that 'China will bring global chaos' if Washington proceeds with plans to impose new port fees on Chinese vessels and tighten restrictions on critical technology exports.
‘Perhaps he sees himself as a “wolf warrior”,’ Bessent remarked, referring to the term widely used to describe China’s assertive and confrontational diplomatic style in recent years.
These comments highlight the growing frustration in Washington towards Beijing’s negotiating tactics, despite both sides publicly insisting that dialogue remains possible. Senior officials from both countries have held intermittent talks in Geneva and Singapore since mid-2025, but little progress has been reported.
Li Chenggang, a seasoned negotiator known in international circles for his expertise and approach to trade diplomacy, is a key figure in these talks. Prior to his current role, he served as China’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva from 2021 until early 2025. Earlier in his career, he participated in bilateral investment discussions with the Obama administration aimed at crafting a long-term framework for US–China economic cooperation.
Former WTO spokesperson Keith Rockwell, who worked closely with Li during his time in Geneva, described him as “a formidable and highly knowledgeable negotiator who doesn’t easily yield to U.S. pressure”. Rockwell added that Li was 'sharp, disciplined, and occasionally humorous'.
Despite such character references, Bessent’s remarks have exacerbated diplomatic tensions at a critical juncture. The US and China are currently in the midst of what analysts describe as the 'second phase' of the trade war, with both governments expanding their lists of sanctioned companies and tightening export restrictions on high-tech materials and semiconductors.
Political analysts in Beijing have condemned Bessent’s comments as “reckless” and “deeply unhelpful”. Some Chinese state media outlets have accused the U.S. Treasury Secretary of attempting to 'publicly humiliate a foreign envoy' in order to gain political advantage ahead of next year's presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, US officials have defended Bessent's statements as 'necessary transparency'. A senior administration aide, speaking off the record, said that Li’s conduct during his August meetings was “confrontational and far outside accepted diplomatic behaviour”.
This reflects a broader pattern of mistrust that has come to define Washington–Beijing relations since the late 2010s, when disputes over trade, technology and human rights became intertwined with broader geopolitical rivalries.
With both governments showing little willingness to compromise, many observers are warning that the current escalation could plunge the global economy into another period of uncertainty. Currency volatility, stock market turbulence and weakened investor confidence are among the potential consequences if tensions continue to escalate.
As of now, neither side has announced plans for further talks. Beijing has reiterated its commitment to dialogue based on equality and mutual respect, while Washington maintains that 'China must demonstrate sincerity through action, not just words'.
Whether the two powers can stabilise relations before the next tariff deadline remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: the war of words between Scott Bessent and Li Chenggang has become the latest flashpoint in a rivalry that shows no sign of cooling.
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