By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Beijing warned Thursday it will not yield “to bullying” after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the United States is “prepared” to go to war with China following alarming threats from the Communist-run nation.
In a direct threat to U.S. President Donald J. Trump after he imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, China’s representatives in America said: “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 until the end.”
Hegseth, in turn, warned that the U.S. is “prepared” to go to war. He added, “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.”
The U.S. hit China with 20 percent tariffs in response to what the White House said was “Chinese inaction” over the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, into America.
China’s Foreign Ministry called the U.S. fentanyl-related explanation for imposing tariffs a “flimsy excuse.”
Beijing responded by announcing plans to boost defense spending by 7.2 percent and hit the U.S. with reciprocal tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on certain imports from March 10.
Analysts said U.S. concerns over China’s rise to a military superpower outweigh its worries over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
By overseeing a fast peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, the Trump administration wants to free up crucial military resources in Asia, according to a Worthy News assessment.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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