The Chinese foreign ministry has fired back at United States Vice President JD Vance, calling him “ignorant and impolite” over the “Chinese peasants” comment he made amid escalating trade tensions between both nations.
Vance, while defending the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs on China during an appearance on Fox News, said:
“We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture.”
Trump had threatened to impose 50 percent tariffs on China in retaliation of Beijing’s 34 percent tariffs on US goods.
Responding, China warned that US can’t issue threats in an attempt to get Beijing to bow.
On Monday, Trump gave China until Tuesday to scrap its 34% counter tariff or face an additional 50% tax on Chinese goods exported to the US.
If Trump acts on his threat, US companies could face a total rate of 104% tariff on exports to China – as it comes on top of 20% tariffs already put in place in March and the 34% announced last week.
Defending the US tariffs on Fox News, Vance said: “We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture.”
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded in a press briefing Tuesday, saying, “It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and impolite words from this vice president.”
China has said it will “fight to the end” as it called Trump’s moves “bullying”.
“China’s position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear,” Lin said on Tuesday.