Pete Hegseth says US is ‘prepared’ to go to war with China over tariff threats

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared early Wednesday that the US is “prepared” to go to war with China, hours after alarming threats from Beijing in response to President Trump’s stiff new tariffs, Report informs via New York Post.

“We’re prepared,” Hegseth said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” in response to China saying it was “ready to fight” any “type of war.”

“Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” Hegseth said, stressing it was important to “be strong.”

“That’s why we’re rebuilding our military. That’s why we’re re-establishing deterrence in the warrior ethos. We live in a dangerous world with powerful, ascendant countries with very different ideology.”

“They’re rapidly increasing their defense spending, modern technology, they want to supplant the United States,” the defense secretary continued.

“If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong.”

Hegseth’s threat came after China declared late Tuesday they were ready to clap back if the US was bent on waging a trade or tariff war — soon after Trump’s initial 10% tariff on Chinese imports doubled to 20%.