RT-Engels: 05-03-2025,
The US is prepared to go to war with China if necessary, the Pentagon has announced, following Beijing’s threat of tariff retaliation in what marks another escalation in an ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified the US position early on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News, responding to the Chinese Embassy in the US, which said Beijing was ready to fight “any” type of war.
“We are prepared,” Hegseth said, adding, “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.”
He further stated that this was why the US was rebuilding its military and restoring “deterrence in the warrior ethos.”
“We live in a dangerous world with powerful, ascendant countries that have very different ideologies,” he said. “They’re rapidly increasing their defense spending, modernizing technology –they want to supplant the United States.”
Hegseth stressed that maintaining military strength was key to avoiding conflict. “If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong,” he said.
The Pentagon chief also insisted that US President Donald Trump has “a great relationship” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and that cooperation and partnership would be pursued where possible. Hegseth emphasized however that his role as the secretary of defense was to ensure readiness for any potential confrontation.