ISTANBUL

Rejecting US claims that Beijing had violated the consensus reached during Geneva talks on trade, China on Tuesday told Washington that “pressure and coercion” were not the “right way to engage in bilateral relations.

“The US, without any factual basis, has smeared and accused China, imposed export controls of chips against China, halted the sales of chip design software to China, and announced the revocation of visas for Chinese students, among other extreme suppression measures,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.

These actions “severely undermined the Geneva Consensus and harmed China's legitimate rights and interests.”

Beijing’s statement came after US President Donald Trump last week accused China of violating a trade deal announced last month in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Trump later said he will speak to China’s President Xi Jinping to discuss the issue.

The phone call may take place this week; however, there is no official confirmation yet.

“The Geneva Consensus was reached by China and the US based on mutual respect and equal consultation,” Lin told a live-streamed news conference.

“China has acted responsibly and earnestly implemented the consensus.”

However, Lin said China firmly lodged “solemn representations” with Washington after the US imposed a visa ban and other actions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month said the State Department will begin revoking visas of Chinese students.

“Pressure and coercion are not the right way to engage with China,” Lin said, urging the US to “respect facts, stop spreading false information, correct its erroneous actions, and take practical steps to uphold the consensus between both sides.”