China said on Tuesday that it would take actions to defend its interests if the United States damages trade ties after President Donald Trump authorized an inquiry into China’s alleged theft of intellectual property.

The United States should respect objective facts, act prudently, and not destroy principles of multilateralism, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

The world’s second-largest economy has been continuously strengthening administrative and judicial protections for intellectual property, the statement added.

Source: cnbc china
China warns it will 'take action to defend interests' if US harms trade ties