JD Vance provokes China’s anger by calling Chinese people ‘peasants’

Vice President JD Vance is facing significant criticism in China for recent comments on Fox & Friends in which he referred to the Chinese as ‘peasants’.

As the Trump administration tries to defend the introduction of tariffs on almost all countries, Vice President JD Vance has drawn attention in China during a discussion on Fox, where he expressed his frustration against a «globalist economy».

Frustrated, Vance explained that, according to him, the globalist economy has brought to the United States only a huge debt, forcing them to now buy goods that other countries manufacture for them. 

Wanting to be «a little more crystal clear», he specified that what he really meant was that the United States «borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture».

His comments sparked lively reactions in China, forcing the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, to respond.

Jian said it was «astonishing and lamentable» to hear the vice president make such «ignorant and disrespectful remarks».

Tensions between the United States and China have reached a critical point due to the trade war launched by Donald Trump, on his ‘Liberation Day’ where he imposed additional tariffs of 34% on Chinese products, already affected by a 20% tax.

In response, China reacted by applying 34% tariffs on American products. Trump then issued a two-day ultimatum to China, demanding the removal of these tariffs, otherwise there would be an increase of 50%, bringing the total to 104%.

In response, China, characterizing Donald Trump’s actions as an attempt at harassment, stated that it would not remove its counter-tariffs and would ‘fight to the end’.

JD Vance’s comments, at the heart of this tense period, have clearly fueled tensions. The author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy’s comments also sparked reactions on Chinese social networks.

Vance was reminded of his own origins as described in his book, and was also told that for ‘country folk’, China was among the world leaders in terms of technology, particularly in fields such as AI, drones, and autonomous driving. Tariffs imposed by Trump on all countries come into effect today, April 9.