China Warns It Is Ready for ‘Any Type of War’ as Trump’s Tariffs Take Effect
Beijing Hits Back with Retaliatory Tariffs Amid Rising US-China Tensions
China has issued a stark warning that it is prepared for “any type of war” with the United States, escalating tensions as President Donald Trump’s tariffs officially took effect.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, declared on Tuesday that Beijing would not tolerate “intimidation” or “bullying” from the US. The statement, reiterated on X by the Chinese embassy in Washington, came as China imposed a 15% tariff on American agricultural goods in response to Trump’s trade measures.
China Vows to Fight Back Against US Pressure
“Pressuring, coercion, or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating,” Jian warned.
Trump has defended his tariffs—25% on Canadian and Mexican products and 20% on Chinese goods—by citing the fentanyl and opioid crisis in the US. The president accused foreign nations, including China, of failing to crack down on illicit fentanyl shipments, arguing that the new tariffs were necessary to pressure them into action.
“If war is what the US wants—be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war—we’re ready to fight till the end,” Jian stated.
US Raises Tariffs to 20%, Beijing Pushes for Diplomacy
Tensions escalated further when Trump increased a 10% tariff on Chinese imports to 20%, claiming the measure would curb fentanyl trafficking into the United States. China swiftly countered, asserting that if Washington “truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue,” it must engage in mutual respect and cooperation rather than imposing unilateral tariffs.
Jian emphasized China’s right to defend itself, stating, “We have made clear our opposition to these tariffs, but we must protect our rights and interests.”
Defense Secretary Warns of Growing Military Threats
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed China’s warnings early Wednesday, stating that America must be ready to counter rising global threats.
“Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” Hegseth told Fox News’ Fox & Friends, emphasizing the need for military preparedness. “That’s why we’re rebuilding our military. That’s why we’re re-establishing deterrence in the warrior ethos. We live in a dangerous world with powerful, ascendant countries with very different ideologies.”
Hegseth warned that China is rapidly modernizing its military and increasing defense spending with ambitions to challenge US global leadership. “If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong,” he added.
Trump Defends Tariffs, Warns of Longstanding Trade Imbalance
Trump doubled down on his decision to implement sweeping tariffs, asserting that other nations have long exploited the US.
“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades,” Trump said, arguing that it was time for the US to retaliate. “And now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.”
Economic Impact: Higher Costs for Consumers?
The new tariffs will affect approximately $1.4 trillion in imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, according to the Tax Foundation.
Trump also announced plans to introduce agricultural tariffs starting April 2, which will impose “reciprocal” levies on imports from several nations, including European allies and Japan.
However, economic experts caution that the tariffs could trigger higher prices on food, automobiles, and other essential goods, potentially increasing costs for American consumers.
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