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Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping (Image: GETTY)
Donald Trump has been told by a Chinese government proxy that any conflict between the superpowers will inevitably end up in “armageddon”, adding: “Both counties are armed to the teeth." Tensions between the United States and China are escalating on multiple fronts, fuelling fears of a prolonged confrontation between the world’s two most powerful nations.
Under Mr Trump, Washington has revived its hardline economic stance, reimposing tariffs of 145% on Chinese goods — measures aimed at redressing trade imbalances and curbing Beijing’s industrial ambitions, with China hitting back with its own tariffs valued at 125%. During an appearance on Radio 4’s Today programme, Victor Gao, vice-president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, was asked about the implications of his country’s massive military build-up. Mr Gao, whose organisation is a member of an alliance of think tanks coordinated by the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, replied: “Why? Because the United States constantly threatens war against China.”
Donald Trump unveiled his tariffs on April 2 (Image: Getty)
Asked what he meant, he continued: “The tariff war, the trade war, the scientific war, the tech war, the chips war, and they are also talking about the Cold War, the proxy war and the hot war.
"Listen to the leaders in Washington. They keep saying that they have been advised that this is the time to have a war against China.
"However, everyone in the world should be assured of my philosophy, that is the inevitability of peace between China and the United States.
“Because both countries are armed to the teeth, both countries have enough military weapons and nuclear warheads to destroy each other and the rest of the world multiple times.
Chinese Naval Ships Zibo And Lu'an Berth In Shanghai (Image: Getty)
"So if Washington wants to launch a war against China, they are talking about they themselves being bombed out, and they will be the trigger for Armageddon.
"Therefore, people in Washington should really calm down whatever problems there are between China and the United States. We need to use diplomacy to talk about a solution.”
Moving on the subject of the tariffs dispute, triggered by Mr Trump on April 2 - which he referred to as Liberation Day - Mr Gao added:
“Allow me to say this in my personal capacity: China will never pick up his phone.
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Taiwan holds live-fire exercise on the Penghu islands (Image: Getty)
"China will never talk to the United States unless the United States deal with China, with respect.
“If they want to hold a gun at China's head, China will hold a gun at its head. That's what we are talking about.
"They are talking about isolating China. China is fully prepared. Whatever the United States is doing will result in the locking out of the United States of the China market.
"The China market is already significantly bigger than the US market. And if you really believe in what Elon Musk is saying, he said, 'By the middle of this century, the size of the Chinese market will be twice, if not three times, that of the United States’.
Chinese soldiers have been captured in Ukraine (Image: Getty)
"Once the door to China is closed, I will assure you, the Americans will be banging on the Chinese door asking to be let in.
Geopolitical flashpoints are compounding the rivalry. The South China Sea remains a major source of friction, with Chinese military installations on disputed islands drawing condemnation from Washington. Meanwhile, US support for Taiwan continues to anger Beijing, which sees the self-governing island as a breakaway province.
The US views China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which involves massive investment in worldwide infrastructure projects, as a strategic challenge to Western dominance.
Additionally, fresh concerns have also emerged over China’s role in the Ukraine conflict, with Ukrainian forces reportedly capturing several Chinese nationals wearing military uniforms. While Beijing denies direct involvement, the revelations have intensified scrutiny of its ties to Moscow and raised alarms in Washington.
With economic, military, and ideological competition colliding, analysts warn that US-China relations are entering a dangerously volatile phase - one which could reshape the global order for decades to come.
English (US) · 