China’s top diplomat didn’t name the United States directly when warning against the return of the “law of the jungle” at a news conference in Beijing, but his meaning was crystal clear.

No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain a good relationship with China at the same time,” warned China’s foreign minister.

Yet president Donald Trump’s decision to hike tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, just six weeks into his term, loomed over the press conference. Pointing to China’s efforts to control flows of fentanyl into the U.