China’s Bold Declaration: Prepared for ‘Any Type of War’ Against the US – What It Means for Global Tensions

China has issued a strong warning to the United States, stating it is prepared to face “any type” of war as tensions rise over escalating trade tariffs. President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on all Chinese goods, pushing the two largest economies closer to a trade war. In response, China has retaliated with tariffs of 10-15% on US agricultural products.

The Chinese embassy in Washington expressed a defiant stance on social media, saying, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.” This declaration marks one of the strongest responses from China since Trump took office, coinciding with the opening of the National People’s Congress in Beijing.

During this congress, Premier Li Qiang announced a 7.2% increase in defense spending for the year, highlighting worries about rapid global changes. This defense budget increase was expected and remains consistent with last year’s announcement. China seeks to assure its citizens that it can continue to grow economically despite the looming threat of a trade conflict.

China is keen to maintain an image of stability and peace, contrasting it with the US, which is often seen as involved in military actions abroad. Additionally, Beijing aims to avoid frightening potential global partners with aggressive rhetoric, especially as Trump’s tariffs also impact US allies like Canada and Mexico.

In his speech, Premier Li emphasized that China will continue to open its economy to attract foreign investments. Historically, China has proclaimed its readiness for conflict. Last October, President Xi urged military readiness during drills near Taiwan, though shifting towards actual warfare is a different matter.

China’s embassy in Washington made comments regarding US claims about the drug fentanyl, stating that linking this issue to trade tariffs is an insufficient justification. A foreign ministry spokesperson asserted, “Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us.” Such statements reflect the ongoing challenges in US-China relations, which are often tense and complex.

Initially, there was hope for friendlier interactions between the two nations after Trump’s inauguration, especially following a positive phone call between Trump and Xi. However, plans for further communication have faltered.

Amid these diplomatic struggles, China faces problems including low consumption rates, a property crisis, and rising unemployment. To counter these issues, Chinese leaders have pledged to inject billions into the economy, announcing details during the National People’s Congress—a meeting where most decisions are made beforehand.

According to reports, China ranks second globally in military spending, with a budget of $245 billion, but this is still much lower than the US budget. China spends about 1.6% of its GDP on military operations, less than both the US and Russia. However, some analysts think China’s actual military budget may be higher than publicly disclosed.

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