The President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping at a meeting on Day 3 of the 10th BRICS Summit.

China's top newspaper lashed out at criticism that Beijing's hard-line treatment of its trade dispute with the U.S. led to tough measures from Washington.

The commentary on Friday from the People's Daily newspaper, a mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, came after a Reuters report about rifts within the party amid the escalating U.S.-China trade war.

Critics have said that an overly nationalistic Chinese stance may have hardened the U.S. position, Reuters reported, citing sources close to the government.

In a striking response to a debate largely held behind closed doors, the newspaper said: "One of these (critics) puts the blame on China, saying that 'China's strategy is too confident and high profile, incurring a one-two punch from the United States.'"