- China’s embassy in the U.S. issued a warning that the country was ready for a trade war or “any other type of war" with the U.S. following Trump’s additional 10% tariffs imposed on the country Tuesday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shot back saying the U.S. is “prepared” for a war with China.
Following President Trump’s newest tariffs on China, the country issued a warning: It’s ready for any type of war with the U.S.
The Chinese embassy in the U.S. on Tuesday issued a veiled threat to Trump and the U.S., saying it was ready to “fight” and would not quietly accept the additional tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
“If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” the Chinese embassy wrote in a post on X.
The post was made in response to a statement by China’s foreign ministry on Trump’s actions, which said blaming fentanyl for the tariffs on China was a “flimsy excuse." The statement claimed that China has taken “robust steps” to help the U.S. deal with the flow of fentanyl to the U.S.
“Instead of recognizing our efforts, the U.S. has sought to smear and shift blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes,” the statement read.
Trump on Tuesday issued an additional 10% tariff on China, on top of a previous 10% tariff issued last month. The levels of tariffs on China are “roughly twice as large as the increase over the entire first Trump administration,” according to a Tuesday note by Goldman Sachs.
China has already struck back following Tuesday’s tariffs with its own tariffs on U.S. agricultural imports. Among the biggest agricultural exports from the U.S. to China are soybeans and corn, which are now subject to tariffs of 10% and 15%, respectively.
In his remarks to Congress on Tuesday evening, President Trump claimed, “China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them.” He also said the new tariffs will help American farmers.
Still, China’s implication that it is ready for “any” type of war is one of the strongest statements the country has made in response to Trump’s anti-China actions. The relationship between the U.S. and China has been contentious for years, but the escalated rhetoric marks a new phase in the relationship.
In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the U.S. is “prepared” for a possible war with China in an interview with Fox & Friends.
“Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” Hegseth said.
