Asger Risom
China calls U.S. Vice President’s remarks about borrowing from “Chinese farmers” rude and misleading
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In the arena of U.S.-China relations, strong rhetoric is nothing new. But recent remarks from U.S. Vice President JD Vance have struck a particularly raw nerve in Beijing, prompting an unusually sharp response from China’s foreign ministry.
A Controversial Claim on U.S. Trade
The backlash stems from a televised interview last week, in which Vance defended the Trump administration’s aggressive trade measures—particularly its sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance described the U.S. economy as “borrowing money from Chinese farmers to buy the things those farmers produce,” calling the arrangement “not a recipe for economic prosperity.”
The comment, meant to underscore concerns about the U.S. trade deficit and reliance on Chinese manufacturing, quickly sparked controversy on both sides of the Pacific.
China’s Sharp Response
Beijing wasted no time in firing back. “It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and rude words from this vice president,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press conference on Tuesday, as reported by HotNews.ro.
Without directly addressing Vance’s economic assertions, Lin reaffirmed China’s position on trade and expressed disappointment over what it sees as a deepening politicization of bilateral economic ties.
Escalating Tensions
The exchange reflects the increasingly combative tone in Washington-Beijing relations since President Donald Trump’s return to office. Vance, an outspoken economic nationalist, has championed tariffs as a means to “rebuild American industry” and reduce dependency on imports.
However, critics argue that such rhetoric oversimplifies complex global trade dynamics—and risks alienating key partners.
With tariffs already straining global markets and diplomatic channels growing colder, comments like these suggest the U.S.-China economic debate is only set to intensify in the months ahead.
