China warns of readiness for any type of war amid US tariff hikes

China has declared its readiness to engage in "any type" of war with the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s escalating trade tariffs.

The two superpowers are locked in a bitter dispute, which intensified on March 4 as Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 per cent, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In retaliation, Beijing imposed 15 per cent tariffs on American agricultural products.

The Chinese embassy in Washington issued a statement via social media platform X, affirming, "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." This message echoed the sentiment expressed by the Chinese foreign ministry, which had previously stated that China would not hesitate to continue its fight "to the bitter end" against any form of US aggression.

The escalation follows President Trump's justification for the additional tariffs, claiming that China was to blame for the fentanyl opioid crisis in the United States. Trump argued that a “large percentage” of the deadly substance originates from China. However, Beijing strongly rejected this accusation, calling the White House’s actions “blackmail” and emphasising its stringent anti-drug policies.

In a scathing response, China's foreign ministry warned that "Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion or threats are not the right way of dealing with China." The statement further added, “Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating.”

Meanwhile, President Trump defended his stance during a joint session of Congress, asserting that the US had been unfairly treated by several countries, including China. He claimed that China’s average tariff on American goods is double that of the tariffs the US imposes on Chinese products.

China’s commerce ministry quickly condemned the US tariffs as a violation of World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, stating that Washington’s "unilateral tax measures" had severely undermined the foundation of China-US economic cooperation. Last month, China filed a formal complaint with the WTO against the US, accusing it of breaching trade regulations.

The strained relations between the US and China have been marked by a volatile trade war that began in 2018, under President Trump’s first administration, when he imposed tariffs to address a massive trade imbalance. Although trade relations briefly improved under President Joe Biden, they have once again deteriorated in the wake of Trump’s recent tariff actions.

The ongoing tensions have sparked concerns about the future of global trade, as both nations continue to exchange punitive measures.

By Aghakazim Guliyev