File photo of Gao Feng. (Photo: VCG)

China will fight to the end if the US continues to escalate trade tensions, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce said at a regular press conference Thursday.

"China firmly opposes US unilateralism and bullying behavior. China's standpoint on the trade war has been consistent and clear," said Gao Feng, the spokesperson with Ministry of Commerce. 

"China does not want and fear the trade war," Gao said.

"There should be principles in cooperation and bottom line in negotiations. China will never give in on major issues of principle," Gao noted.

On rare earth exports, Gao also said that the volatility of rare earth exports is the result of market changes. China has not taken new management measures for rare earth trade, he said.