China Escalates Trade War, Condemns US Tariffs as Threat to Hong Kong's Survival

Chinese official Xia Baolong denounces US tariff policies as 'shameless,' linking them to broader efforts to suppress Hong Kong while warning of economic and cultural retaliation.

• Xia Baolong, China's top official on Hong Kong affairs, accused the US of imposing tariffs aimed at undermining Hong Kong’s vitality and threatening China's survival.
• The US has levied a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting China to respond with a 125% tariff on US imports, intensifying the economic standoff.
• Xia characterized US actions as 'extremely shameless' and predicted they would backfire, invoking China's 5,000 years of civilization in a televised speech.
• Hong Kong, despite being affected by US tariffs, has refrained from retaliatory measures, reaffirming its commitment to free trade under leader John Lee.
• US Vice President JD Vance’s recent remarks referring to 'Chinese peasants' have added to the escalating tensions, drawing sharp criticism from Chinese officials.

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