China warns US that they’re ‘ready for any type of war’ after Trump speech

Trump has ruffled a few more feathers

Xi Jinping issued a warning to the US, a move that showed a deepening rift between the two global superpowers.

The Trump administration has doubled tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20 per cent, citing the country's failure to stop the export of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl.

China’s embassy in the US said in a statement: "If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals.

"If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we are ready to fight till the end."

China vowed to ‘fight until the end’ and dismissed the fentanyl crisis as a justification for tariff increases on Chinese imports.

Responding immediately, it announced additional tariffs of 10%-15% on a wide range of US products including meats, grains, cotton, fruit, vegetables and dairy products.

There are fears this escalating rivalry between the two nations will result in a ‘war’ – whether that is limited to trade or more drastic measures.

Jason Pack, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) fellow and host of the Disorder Podcast, stressed that Trump’s ‘sole desire’ is to disorder the very problems he claims that he will solve.

Pack said: "This is critical, and I believe that what he understands about tariffs is that they disorder economic relationships.

"Trump doesn’t believe that they do what he claims publicly. What he does understand extremely well is that this will disorder global supply chains and that’s a positive.

"The way to understand the confrontation with China is that it is deliberately disordering. It’s meant to introduce volatility into the markets which it has done and will do.

"Trump loves the idea of a trade war, because he understands one thing about human psychology – if there is a war and a sense of confrontation, people are willing to accept more economic pain and suffering.

"His policies are not going to make America stronger economically. But if he can create a justification for why the economy is going to actually be worse than it was under Joe Biden, then that is good."

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that Trump’s bullying tactics he uses against other governments will not work.

He also warned that 'pressuring, coercion or threats' are not the right way to deal with his country.

Taking to X Jian said: "Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us.

"Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating.

"If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals."