Trade War: China refutes US allegations of forceful technology transfer

On Saturday, China hit out at the US 301 Section investigation report according to which it is accused of forced technology transfer to U.S. companies through joint-ventures and shareholding shares.

The comments come after US President Donald Trump on Sunday predicted China would take down its trade barriers, and expressed optimism that both sides could resolve the issue through talks.

"Under the current circumstances, both sides even more cannot have talks on these issues," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters at a regular news briefing on Monday.

"The United States with one hand wields the threat of sanctions, and at the same time says they are willing to talk. I'm not sure who the United States is putting on this act for," Geng said.

The trade frictions were "entirely at the provocation of the United States", he added.

The US move last week to threaten China with tariffs on $US50 billion in Chinese goods was aimed at forcing Beijing to address what Washington says is deeply entrenched theft of US intellectual property and forced technology transfer from US companies.

Chinese officials deny such charges, and responded within hours of Trump's announcement of tariffs with their own proposed commensurate duties. The move prompted Trump to threaten duties on an additional $US100 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods.