President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, July 24, 2017.
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
China on Monday expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the U.S. launch of an investigation into China's alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property.
China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement that it would take appropriate measures to defend the country's lawful interests, and that Washington should respect the facts and act prudently.
The U.S. Trade Representative formally announced the investigation on Friday, a widely expected move following a call from President Donald Trump earlier last week to determine whether a probe was needed.