Beijing increases defense spending by 7.2% and warns Washington it is ready to “fight to the end.”
China has declared it is “ready for war” with the United States as it ramps up defense spending and imposes retaliatory tariffs on American imports.
In a direct warning to Donald Trump, Chinese representatives in the U.S. stated: “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.”
The U.S. recently imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, citing Beijing’s alleged inaction over the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, into America.
In response, China has announced a 7.2% increase in defense spending and will introduce reciprocal tariffs of 10% to 15% on select U.S. imports starting March 10.
In a series of defiant statements online, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its U.S. embassy warned Washington that “intimidation does not scare us,” while criticizing Donald Trump for linking tariffs to the fentanyl crisis.
The strong rhetoric comes as China’s top legislature convenes for its annual Two Sessions meetings in Beijing, where plans for increased defense spending were unveiled.
The 7.2% rise in military expenditure matches last year’s increase, bringing the official defense budget to approximately 1.78 trillion yuan (£190 billion). The move aligns with President Xi Jinping’s goal of building a modern military by 2027.
Despite the strong rhetoric, analysts suggest that China is not actively preparing for war. Instead, its aggressive language appears to be a reaction to the Trump administration’s tariffs, which also targeted Mexico and Canada and took effect on Tuesday.
Premier Li remained optimistic about the economic impact in his address on Wednesday, reaffirming China’s 5% growth target for the third consecutive year. However, the country faces significant economic challenges at home, and the new U.S. tariffs could deal a heavy blow to its crucial export sector.
While Beijing has lodged formal complaints with the World Trade Organization, it has also retaliated with additional tariffs on U.S. goods and new export restrictions targeting specific American entities.
