As the U.S.–China trade war intensifies, China’s vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, Victor Zhikai Gao, made bold remarks following the latest escalation.
On Friday, China announced a 125% retaliatory tariffon all American goods, shortly after President Donald Trump raised duties on Chinese imports to 145%.
Speaking to reporters, Gao dismissed concerns about losing access to the U.S. market, stating:
“We don’t care! China has been here for 5,000 years. Most of the time, there was no U.S., and we survived.”
When asked about the potential loss of the American market—which makes up around 15% of China’s total trade—Gao remained unfazed:
“If the United States wants to bully China, we will deal with a situation without the United States, and we expect to survive for another 5,000 years.”
Global Fallout and Strategic Shifts
The tariff escalation triggered turbulence in global markets. Since “Liberation Day” on April 2, major international indices have suffered sharp declines, with slight recoveries emerging Friday afternoon after China’s countermeasure.
While some economists warn that Trump’s tariffs risk sparking a global recession, others see geopolitical ramifications extending beyond trade. Zhiqun Zhu, professor of international relations at Bucknell University, noted:
“If the current tariff is sustained, and China is able to weather this difficult period, it will definitely boost Beijing’s confidence in facing potential Western sanctions in a future cross-strait war.”
The statement underscores rising concerns that China could interpret successful tariff resistance as a green light for more assertive actions—particularly regarding Taiwan.
Europe Eyes Closer Ties With Beijing
As trans-Pacific tensions grow, Europe is quietly pivoting. Reports suggest that EU leaders plan to travel to Beijing in July for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This follows comments by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who recently labeled China a “partner of the EU,” calling for Europe to forge stronger ties with Beijing amid uncertainty over Trump’s tariff regime.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/china-hits-back-at-trumps-tariffs-says-u-s-market-not-essential/