A senior Chinese official has now reportedly harshly criticized the U.S. and labeled Americans as “peasants” in response to the ongoing tariff war initiated by President Trump against China.
Xia Baolong, who is responsible for Hong Kong and Macao affairs, described Trump’s 145% tariffs as “brutally unreasonable” during a recent television appearance.
He stated, “The U.S. isn’t after our tariffs but our very survival,” highlighting China’s perception of American actions as efforts to contain and suppress its influence, particularly in Hong Kong.
Xia warned that such measures would ultimately backfire on the U.S. and sarcastically remarked that Americans would “wail in front of the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.”
He added that the Chinese people do not instigate trouble nor shy away from it, indicating that pressure and threats would not be effective in dealing with China.
These comments echo statements made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who previously criticized the globalist economy, asserting that it leads to high debt and dependency on foreign production.
Vance pointed out that the U.S. borrows from “Chinese peasants” to buy their products, arguing that this is not a sustainable economic model.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to Vance’s remarks, labeling them as ignorant and disrespectful.
This type of combative rhetoric is not new; for example, in November 2023, President Xi Jinping warned that China’s reunification with Taiwan was inevitable, urging the U.S. to adhere to its commitments against supporting Taiwan independence.
In the past, the Chinese Communist Party has made threats to retaliate economically against the U.S. for its policies, indicating ongoing tensions between the two countries.
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