China has signaled it is prepared for ‘any type of war’ with America just as Donald Trump’s 100-minute speech to Congress came to an end.
Xi Jinping issued a warning to the US, a move that showed a deepening rift between the two global superpowers – and also played right into Trump’s plan to ‘disorder’ global affairs.
The shift in tone comes in response to the Trump administration doubling tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20%, citing the country’s failure to stop the export of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl.
‘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,’ China’s embassy in the US hit back in a statement.
‘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.
He told Metro tariffs are ‘central to his vision of the world’ and it is one of the few things that he has been consistent on since the 1980s.
‘This is critical, and I believe that what he understands about tariffs is that they disorder economic relationships,’he added.
‘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, than that is good.’
Pack said the US will use China as a the scapegoat of all scapegoats’ as Trump moves forward with destabilising the current world order.
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 on is.
He had earlier warned that ‘pressuring, coercion or threats’ are not the right way to deal with his country.
More Trending
‘Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us,’ Jian lashed out on X.
‘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.’
Jian urged the Trump administration to ‘stop being domineering and return to the right track’ of dialogue and cooperation at an early date.
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Spurs may settle for AZ Alkmaar draw after Dejan Kulusevski injury blow
MORE: CCTV shows crossbow murderer Kyle Clifford deceiving his way into ex’s home
MORE: Trench coats never go out of fashion – but M&S’s new design is a must have
