China says it is ready for 'any type of war' with US

China has declared that it is prepared for 'any type of war' with the United States, as tensions rise between the two nations over trade issues. This statement comes in response to President Donald Trump's recent imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese goods, which has escalated the situation towards a potential trade war. In retaliation, China has announced its own tariffs, ranging from 10% to 15% on American agricultural products. The Chinese embassy issued a strong statement saying, 'If war is what the US wants, whether it is a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we are ready to fight till the end. ' This marks one of the most assertive responses from China since Trump took office and coincides with the annual National People's Congress taking place in Beijing. During this important gathering, Premier Li Qiang revealed that China would increase its defense spending by 7. 2% this year, emphasizing that 'changes unseen in a century are unfolding across the world at a faster pace. ' This increase in military spending was anticipated and aligns with the figure announced in the previous year. The leaders in Beijing aim to convey confidence to the Chinese populace regarding the country's economic growth, despite the looming threat of a trade war. China is keen to project itself as a stable and peaceful nation, contrasting with the US, which it accuses of being involved in conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Additionally, China may be looking to leverage Trump's actions against US allies like Canada and Mexico, who are also facing tariffs, while being cautious not to escalate rhetoric to the point of alienating potential global partners. In his speech, the Premier reiterated China's commitment to opening up its economy and attracting more foreign investment. Historically, China has expressed its readiness for military action. Last October, President Xi Jinping called for military forces to enhance their preparedness for war during drills near Taiwan, a self-governing island. However, there is a distinction between military readiness and a desire for conflict. The Chinese embassy in Washington shared a statement that accused the US of using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext for increasing tariffs on Chinese imports. The spokesperson stated, 'The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise US tariffs on Chinese imports. ' They further asserted, 'Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion, or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. ' The relationship between the US and China is one of the most contentious globally. The embassy's post has gained significant traction and could be utilized by proponents of a hardline stance against China within Trump's administration as evidence of Beijing being a major foreign policy and economic threat. Initially, officials in Beijing were optimistic that US-China relations under Trump could begin on a more positive note after he invited Xi to his inauguration. Trump had also mentioned that the two leaders had a 'great phone call' shortly before he assumed the presidency. There were expectations for another call last month, but it did not materialize. Xi has been grappling with persistent issues such as low consumer spending, a property market crisis, and rising unemployment. In response, China has pledged to inject billions of dollars into its struggling economy, unveiling this plan during the National People's Congress, a parliamentary body that typically ratifies decisions made in private discussions. China possesses the second-largest military budget globally, amounting to $245 billion, yet it remains significantly smaller than that of the US. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Beijing allocates 1. 6% of its GDP to military spending, which is considerably less than the expenditures of the US or Russia. Nevertheless, analysts suggest that China may underreport its defense spending.