Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday accused the United States of “meeting good with evil” for imposing a new round of “arbitrary tariffs” and vowed retaliation.  

The fiery words from Wang came during a Friday news conference on the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary session, just days after the U.S. levied duties against China – as well as Canada and Mexico – over accusations of fentanyl smuggling.

All countries have called these allegations unjustified, with China maintaining it has done a lot in recent years to curb the exports of industrial chemicals that are used to make fentanyl – which, Wang alleged, have been with punitive tariffs. 

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian earlier this week argued that fentanyl was a “flimsy excuse” to raise tariffs on Chinese imports, cautioning that “intimidation does not scare us” and “bullying” would not work. 

The foreign minister’s annual press conference is the one occasion on which Wang speaks to Chinese and foreign media on a range of topics. Friday’s event was dominated by questions about China’s ties with the U.S., along with other topics such as regional conflicts and collaborations within the Global South.

President Donald Trump imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese imports, citing the ongoing fentanyl crisis as a reason for the decision. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci / iStock)

Regarding the Trump administration’s policy of safeguarding U.S. interests above international cooperation, Wang said such an approach, if adopted by every country in the world, would result in the “law of the jungle.”

“Small and weak countries will get burnt first, and the international order and rules will be under severe shock,” Wang said. “Major countries should undertake their international obligations … and not seek to profit from and bully the weak.”

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.