BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese official said Thursday that the United States was capricious and had further inflamed trade war provocations, forcing China to make strong responses.

"In the process of handling trade friction, China has always sought to push negotiations in an active and practical manner with the aim to maintain the overall Sino-U.S. trade relations," said Gao Feng, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, at a press conference.

He said that the two sides had once "borne fruit with clear negotiation roadmaps and timetables."

On the basis of the consensus reached in Washington on May 19, the two sides conducted detailed consultations on agriculture and energy in Beijing at the beginning of June, and planned further consultations on manufacturing and services, as well as structural problems, he said.

The Chinese side has held the view that previous negotiations were positive and constructive, which were in the interests of the people of both sides and in accordance with China's reform and opening-up pace as well as in line with the principles of the WTO, Gao said.

"The U.S. side has become accustomed to carrying big sticks in negotiations, which will not work with China. Such irrational practices will not help solve problems," he said.