China has rejected accusations made by the United States of backtracking in trade talks and warned it would not "capitulate to any pressure" as the two sides head into make-or-break negotiations.
"The US has assigned a lot of labels, such as backtracking, going back on one's word, and so on. Lots of promises have been foisted on China," Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters in Beijing on Thursday, Al Jazeera reports.
"China will not capitulate to any pressure, and we have the determination and ability to defend our own interests," Gao said, warning that it "has already prepared for all possible situations".
The US has raised the stakes with plans to increase tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods from 10 to 25 percent at 12:01am (04:01GMT) on Friday, prompting Beijing to vow to hit back with "necessary countermeasures".
Gao's comments came as a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He was set to hold talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday.
The talks are aimed at salvaging the trade deal that appeared to be unravelling after US President Donald Trump accused China of breaking it and promised to impose more tariffs if no agreement is reached.
