Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Wednesday that the United States is “prepared” to go to war with China if necessary, as tensions between the two global superpowers escalate over trade and military posturing.
Speaking on *Fox & Friends*, Hegseth responded to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, which posted on X late Tuesday: “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”
“Well, we’re prepared,” Hegseth said. “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.” He emphasized the administration’s commitment to military strength, adding, “That’s why we’re rebuilding our military. If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong, and that president understands peace comes through strength.”
While trade hostilities between Washington and Beijing have intensified, Hegseth insisted that President Donald Trump maintains a “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and is still seeking diplomatic solutions.
“Where we can cooperate, we will. The president is looking for peace and opportunities,” Hegseth said. “But my job as secretary of defense is to make sure we’re ready. We need the defense spending, the capabilities, the weapons, and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we’re very much focused on.”
China recently announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget as it continues modernizing its military and asserting its global influence. The country ranks as the world’s second-largest military spender behind the United States and maintains the largest navy in terms of fleet size.
The latest tensions come as the U.S. dramatically escalated its trade war with China this week, with Trump doubling tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%. Beijing retaliated with up to 15% tariffs on key U.S. agricultural products, including wheat, corn, and pork.
Chinese officials have accused Washington of using fentanyl trade as an excuse to impose tariffs, arguing that the U.S. must take responsibility for its own opioid crisis. Trump, however, has repeatedly blamed China for failing to curb the production of fentanyl, which has fueled America’s overdose epidemic.
In addition to targeting China, Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada, citing their role in fentanyl trafficking and border security failures.
Despite the heightened tensions, reports indicate that the White House could announce some tariff carveouts as early as Wednesday in an attempt to mitigate the economic fallout.
