Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley isn't buying the charm offensive. As President Donald Trump gears up for a meeting with President Xi Jinping next month, Haley took to X on Thursday to deliver a blunt warning: China is "not our friend."

'They Are Not Our Friend'

"When President Trump meets with President Xi next month, Xi will turn on the charm and claim China is a good actor," Haley wrote. She didn't stop there, accusing Beijing of "funding Iran in a war against us, hacking our critical infrastructure, and undermining America at every turn." Her advice to Washington? "Hold them accountable."

A Consistent Hawkish Stance

This isn't Haley's first rodeo with China. She's been painting Beijing as an adversary for years. Back in 2023, she called China "the biggest threat we've had since Pearl Harbor." And her claims about China's alleged support for Iran aren't new either. In June, she made similar accusations, alleging China supplied weapons systems to Iran while Russia provided drones and satellite support during the Iran conflict.

Haley has also been vocal about China's ambitions toward Taiwan, warning that if Beijing took control of the island, it would gain leverage over the world's semiconductor supply chain. Taiwan remains a flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, with China calling the island "the first red line that must not be crossed" in bilateral relations.

DOJ, FBI Seize Platforms Behind Breach

Haley's comments come on the heels of a significant law enforcement action. On Wednesday, the Justice Department and FBI announced they had seized the domains used by QScan and QTRouter, hacking platforms linked to the China-backed group QTFY.

Court records unsealed in the Southern District of California tie QTFY to Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co. The records allege the company sold hacking services to China's Ministry of State Security and the People's Liberation Army. The alleged targets? A who's who of U.S. institutions: NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Energy and Justice departments, and the U.S. Senate.

Trump Weighs New Tariffs

The upcoming meeting will be the second between Trump and Xi this year. Trump traveled to China in May, and following that summit, the two leaders established new bilateral trade and investment boards. But Taiwan and trade-fairness concerns remained unresolved.

Now, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a 7.5% tariff on Chinese imports over industrial overcapacity. That's a move that could add another layer of tension to an already complicated relationship.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.