China has labelled US Vice-President, JD Vance “ignorant and impolite” after he remarked that America had been borrowing money from “Chinese peasants”.
The comment, made during a Fox News interview on Thursday, sparked backlash on Chinese social media.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Vance’s words were “surprising and sad”.
“We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture,” Vance said while defending President Donald Trump’s tariff policy.
China is one of the largest holders of US Treasury bonds. On Monday, Trump gave the country until Tuesday to scrap its 34% counter tariff or face an additional 50% tax on goods imported into the US.
If implemented, the new tax would raise the total tariff rate on Chinese imports to 104%, combining the fresh 50% with the 34% announced last week and 20% introduced in March.
Beijing has vowed to resist the pressure. “China’s position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear,” Lin said. He also called the US approach “bullying” and promised China would “fight to the end.”
Vance’s comment quickly went viral on Chinese platforms, especially Weibo, where users harshly criticised him.
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“As a key figure in the US government, it is really shameful for Vance to say such things,” one user wrote.
“Isn’t his memoir called ‘Hillbilly Elegy’?” another user said, referencing Vance’s book about growing up in rural America.
While Trump and his allies argue that tariffs will benefit the US economy and protect jobs, many economists have expressed concern.
They warn the policy could disrupt international supply chains, raise prices for American consumers, and damage global trade.
Following Trump’s latest announcement, financial institutions have raised alarms about rising recession risks in both the US and around the world.
(BBC)
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