China's Response to Trump's Tariff: We Don't Care

articlemostwanted - The United States has unleashed a storm of tariffs on multiple countries, with China facing levies exceeding 100% (currently, as of this article written, is reaching 245%, which is crazy!). This aggressive move, part of President Donald Trump’s trade policy, has sparked global attention. Many expected China to buckle under pressure or rush to negotiate. Instead, China’s response has been bold, defiant, and, for many online, downright inspiring. Social media platforms flood with admiration for China’s refusal to just bow down, with some calling the U.S. a bully that expects the world to fall in line. China’s stance signals a shift, a new balance of power where one nation dares to stand firm against perceived arrogance.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping planned on a strategic tour of Southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia from April 14 to April 18, 2025. This five-day diplomatic mission was no coincidence. Facing U.S. tariffs of 145%, China sought to strengthen ties with nations who were also hit hard by Trump’s policies. Vietnam, a manufacturing hub, faces 46% tariffs, Malaysia 24%, and Cambodia a steep 49%. During the visit, Xi signed 45 agreements with Vietnam alone, covering supply chains, railways, and green technology. In Malaysia, discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim focused on a potential free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Cambodia, where China is the largest trading partner with bilateral trade surpassing $15 billion in 2024, saw Xi reinforce investment promises. These moves highlight China’s intent to deepen economic alliances, with ASEAN overtaking the U.S. and EU as China’s largest export market since 2023, according to Chinese customs data.

The U.S. anticipated China would come to the negotiating table, perhaps humbled them just like what they did to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that appeared in recent news in White House. Instead, China ignored Washington’s calls. Xi’s tour emphasized free trade and multilateral cooperation, positioning China as a stable partner amid global economic chaos. In an article for Vietnam’s Nhan Dan newspaper, Xi wrote, “There are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars. Protectionism leads nowhere.” He urged Southeast Asian nations to resist “unilateral bullying,” a clear jab at the U.S. This approach contrasts sharply with Trump’s tariff-driven isolationism, offering a vision of open markets and mutual growth that resonates with export-reliant economies.

Victor Gao, a prominent Chinese commentator, the vice president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG , captured this defiance in a recent interview. Responding to questions about U.S. tariffs, he stated, “We don’t care, we don’t care about the tariff numbers game. China will not be intimidated.” He further emphasized, “If the United States insists on escalating, we will fight to the end.” These remarks, aired on international platforms, reflect China’s broader narrative of resilience. Gao’s bluntness wipes out the sentiment of many in China. “China has been here for 5000 years. Most of the time, there was no United States and we survived” continued Gao.

This moment reveals a stark and good truth: America’s dominance is no longer absolute, or to be more precise, they were never the world leader. The U.S. cannot dictate terms through economic coercion without pushback. China’s rise, coupled with its refusal to be cowed, signals a new era where nations demand respect, not mockery through punitive tariffs. For many, China represents hope for a balanced global order, one where power is shared, not hoarded. Yet, as tensions simmer, the world watches nervously, hoping this economic standoff doesn’t spiral into something far worse. We are all hoping that this conflict is not escalating into something more terrible, the World War 3.