China has fired back at the United States, accusing American President Joe Biden of hypocrisy after he labeled Beijing as "xenophobic" and engaging in unfair trade practices.

During a union gathering on Wednesday, Biden advocated for increased steel tariffs on China, alleging that Beijing had manipulated trade during a Pennsylvania election campaign.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded sharply to Biden's remarks on Thursday, questioning whether the accusations were directed at China or the U.S. itself.

Biden's comments were met with applause from United Steelworkers union members in Pittsburgh, where he asserted, "They're not competing, they're cheating. We've seen the damage here in America. They're xenophobic... they've got real problems."

Highlighting alleged government subsidies, Biden claimed Chinese steel firms operate without the pressure to turn a profit.

The President further revealed his intention to urge the U.S. trade representative to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum should evidence confirm Beijing's anti-competitive behavior.

Earlier, the U.S. launched an investigation into China's trade activities in shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors, accusing Beijing of leveraging "unfair, non-market policies" to assert dominance.

China has strongly criticized the probe, denouncing it as a "mistake upon a mistake."

Tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to escalate, with disagreements spanning technology, trade policies, human rights issues, and territorial disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.