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China Rebukes Trump Remarks, Says International Law Must Govern World Order

By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - China on Wednesday pushed back against comments attributed to the U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that his power is limited only by his own morality, saying that international law — not unilateral authority — must remain the foundation of global governance.

Responding to a media question, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the international legal system based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter is “the cornerstone of the existing international order” and an essential framework for resolving disputes between nations. She warned that abandoning these rules risks plunging the world into a “law of the jungle.”

“Upholding international law is crucial to maintaining international fairness and justice,” Mao said, adding that major countries bear a special responsibility to set an example by respecting international law and fulfilling their obligations under it.

Her remarks come amid renewed debate over the role of multilateral institutions and legal norms in a period of heightened geopolitical rivalry. Beijing has repeatedly argued that some powerful nations apply international law selectively to serve their own interests, undermining the credibility of the rules-based system.

By explicitly referencing Trump’s reported comments, China sought to reinforce its position that global stability depends on adherence to shared principles rather than the preferences of individual leaders. Mao emphasized that international law is not optional but fundamental to preventing conflict and ensuring predictability in international relations.