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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled America’s readiness for potential conflict with China during a Wednesday morning television appearance, following heightened tensions sparked by Beijing’s aggressive response to President Trump’s latest tariff increases.
Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Hegseth responded to China’s combative rhetoric by emphasizing American military preparedness. “Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” he stated, underlining the importance of projecting strength on the global stage.
๐จUS Defense Sec. warns China:
โWe are prepared for war. Weโre rebuilding our military, re-establishing deterrence. We live in a dangerous world. To deter war with China or others, we must be strong. My job is to ensure weโre ready.โ https://t.co/JDPpCmnk9G pic.twitter.com/KYDXQqpblW
— Janta Journal (@JantaJournal) March 5, 2025
The Defense Secretary elaborated on the administration’s military strategy, pointing to ongoing efforts to bolster defense capabilities and restore deterrence measures. He highlighted concerns about China’s expanding military budget and technological advancement, warning of their apparent aim to challenge American global leadership.
“They’re rapidly increasing their defense spending, modern technology, they want to supplant the United States,” Hegseth explained.
His comments followed a provocative statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, who declared, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ณ 'We don't want conflict with China, but peace through strength is how you deter Communist Chinese' – Def Sec Hegseth
Okay, if you think you still have the ability to contain China๐ pic.twitter.com/EMkP3ty7Fg
— ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ (@OopsGuess) February 12, 2025
The diplomatic tension escalated after President Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. Beijing swiftly countered by implementing their own tariff increases of 10-15% on various American agricultural and food products, while also imposing restrictions on 25 US companies citing national security concerns.
Despite the heated exchange, Hegseth later attempted to ease tensions by highlighting the positive relationship between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing continued commitment to pursuing peaceful solutions.
The Defense Secretary concluded by emphasizing his role in maintaining military readiness, stressing the importance of sustained defense spending and strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region.
