China says US trade war, tech curbs have spurred ‘independent innovation’

“Practice has fully demonstrated that China’s economic fundamentals are solid and its resilience strong, and that it is fully capable of withstanding rough waters and even stormy waves,” the People’s Daily said in an editorial on Thursday, published at the start of the first year of the new five-year plan.

Citing the United States for “escalating multiple rounds of tariff pressure” and technological suppression, the editorial argued that China had withstood the impact of the trade war and had “responded with composure and pressed ahead”.

“The more the US seeks to suppress and contain us, the more it stimulates our capacity for independent innovation.”

According to the editorial, recent economic data had been positive, with a “clear improvement” in indicators such as prices and corporate profitability in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Positive factors are continuing to build up, and the favourable momentum of China’s economic development towards innovation and higher-quality growth will continue.”