The US Vice President JD Vance has triggered a diplomat row with Beijing after saying that China’s economy is run by “Chinese peasants.”
Officials in Beijing are furious and called Vance “ignorant and impolite” after making his comments.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “It’s both astonishing and lamentable to hear this vice president make such ignorant and disrespectful remarks.”
This comes as Beijing is standing firm on imposing their tariffs on the US which has angered the US President who has threatened to set a further 50% on tariffs of Chinese imports.
The Chinese Commerce Industry said in a statement, “The US threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the US China will never accept this.
If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end.
On Monday, Trump threatened to hike tariffs on China by an additional 50% if it did not rescind its 34% tariff implemented in response to the president’s initial round of tariffs. China protested that Trump’s tariff threats were ‘completely groundless and is a typical unilateral bullying practice.”
Donald Trump blasted on Truth Social, “If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th.
“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
“If the tariffs keep going up and up, it becomes a battle of wills and principles rather than economics,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist for China at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
“Since China already faces a tariff rate in excess of 60%, it doesn’t matter if it goes up by 50% or 500%,” he added.
