The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. released a fierce reaction on Wednesday, stating that China is "willing to fight a war if that is what the United States desires." The declaration was made against the backdrop of increased tensions after President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Chinese products in the fentanyl controversy.
In its message, the Chinese Embassy emphasized the importance of mutual respect in diplomatic relations. “If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals. 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,” the embassy posted on X.
At the same time, China's foreign ministry brushed off the fentanyl problem as nothing more than a pretext for Washington to raise tariffs on Chinese goods. A ministry spokesman claimed that China's retaliatory measures were legitimate and necessary to protect its national interests.
"The US, not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis.". In the spirit of humaneness and benevolence towards the American people, we have taken strong measures to help the US address the problem. Rather than appreciating our efforts, the US has attempted to defame and blame China and is trying to pressure and blackmail China with the increase in tariffs. They've been PUNISHING us for assisting them. This will not fix the US problem and will subvert our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation," the spokesman said.
The Trump administration introduced an extra 10% tariff on Chinese products, which began on Tuesday. The tariffs supplement the current 10% charges and apply to imports from Mexico and Canada as well for the same reasons.
China's Retaliatory Measures Against US Tariffs
Following the US tariffs, China announced retaliatory measures on American farm exports. The Chinese finance ministry indicated on Tuesday that extra tariffs ranging from 10% to 15% will be applied to many US agricultural goods, such as soybeans, corn, beef, and dairy.
Among the US products liable for a 10% tariff are soybeans, sorghum, pork, aquatic commodities, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products, a Reuters report says. Imports like chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, on the other hand, will face a 15% tariff.
In addition to tariffs, China has also taken action to constrain US economic presence by adding 25 US companies to the list of companies facing export and investment bans.
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