China has vowed to fight “till the bitter end” if the United States continues its trade war, following Washington’s decision to double tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing accused the US of using the fentanyl crisis as a “flimsy excuse” to justify the tariff hikes and announced retaliatory measures against American goods.
"If the United States... persists in waging a tariff war, a trade war, or any other kind of war, the Chinese side will fight them to the bitter end," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in response to a question from The New York Times.
His remarks came after the Trump administration raised tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Beijing responded with a 15 per cent tariff on US chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, while also imposing a 10 per cent duty on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, according to the State Council Tariff Commission.
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Why Trump is imposing reciprocal tariffs on April 2 In his statement, Lin criticised Washington for attempting to pressure China with economic measures. "The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise US tariffs on Chinese imports. Our countermeasures to defend our rights and interests are fully legitimate and necessary," he said, adding that America alone is responsible for its opioid crisis.
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'Europe spent more on Russian oil, gas than defending Ukraine': Trump in US CongressLin further accused the US of punishing China despite Beijing’s efforts to assist in tackling the fentanyl problem. "Instead of recognizing our efforts, the US has sought to smear and shift blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes. They've been punishing us for helping them. This is not going to solve the US's problem and will undermine our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation," he said.
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The Chinese government also announced additional restrictions on American companies, adding 15 firms, including drone manufacturer Skydio, to its export control list. This move would prevent Chinese companies from exporting dual-use technology to these businesses, as reported by CNN.
Economic analysts suggest China’s countermeasures are calculated to hit industries with strong ties to the Trump administration’s voter base. "China’s tariffs give it room for negotiations to potentially avoid even more damaging tariffs down the road," said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center for the Conference Board.
Lin, however, made it clear that China would not back down under pressure. "Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. 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," he said.
Concluding his remarks, Lin issued a stark warning: "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."
China to increase its defense budget by 7.2% this year
China has decided to increase its defence budget by 7.2% this year, bringing official military spending to approximately $245 billion. The move aligns with Beijing's ongoing efforts to expand and modernize its armed forces, reinforcing its territorial claims and challenging US military dominance in Asia.
The Asian nation already possesses the world’s largest navy and maintains the second-largest defense budget globally, behind only the States. However, analysts and the Pentagon estimate that China’s actual military expenditures could be at least 40% higher, with additional defense-related costs embedded in other budget categories. The budget details were unveiled at the National People’s Congress, China’s annual legislative meeting.
Rising tensions with the US, Taiwan, Japan, and neighboring countries with competing claims in the strategic South China Sea are fueling China’s investment in advanced military technology. This includes stealth fighters, an expanding fleet of aircraft carriers—set to grow from three to four—and a significant buildup of its nuclear arsenal.