China switches to 'never yield' mood in answer to Trump tariffs

China has put civilian government officials in Beijing on "wartime footing" and ordered a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at encouraging other countries to push back against US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

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Communist Party officials have played a leading role in framing China's response, a source said, posting defiant clips on social media featuring former leader Mao Zedong saying "we will never yield".

As part of the "wartime" posture, bureaucrats in the foreign affairs and commerce ministries have had to cancel vacation plans and keep cellphones switched on around the clock, sources said.

Departments covering the US have also been beefed up, including with officials who worked on China's response to Trump's first term.

The combative approach after Trump's "Liberation Day" salvo on 2 April marked a hard turn for Beijing, which had tried to avoid a spiralling trade war.

For months, Chinese diplomats had tried to establish a high-level channel of communication with Trump's administration to defend what China's cabinet has described in state media campaigns as a "win-win" trading relationship.