BEIJING -- China opposes the United States using the so-called "overcapacity" as a pretext for political manipulation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, after the United States reportedly announced it will launch trade investigations into 16 trading partners, including China.

The ministry's spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, saying China's position on the economic and trade issues between China and the United States is consistent and clear, and that China is against unilateral tariff measures of any form.