Trump sends warning message to China – 'we're far more powerful'

President Donald Trump has dismissed mounting concerns over the escalating trade war with China, suggesting that the U.S. holds a significant advantage – not just economically, but militarily.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump insisted he was “not concerned” about rising tensions, even after both countries imposed steep tariffs on each other’s goods. The president described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “one of the very smart people of the world,” and said he didn’t believe Xi would let the conflict spiral further.

“We’re far more powerful than people understand,” Trump told reporters. “We have weaponry that nobody has any idea what it is – and it is the most powerful in the world.” He did not elaborate on what he meant by those remarks.

What’s Behind the Tension?

The latest flare-up came after China imposed an additional 84 percent tariff on U.S. goods, prompting Trump to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports from 104 percent to 125 percent, per Economic Times. Trump said the new tariffs would take effect “immediately.” These measures came even as the U.S. announced a three-month pause on other global tariffs—excluding China.

Trump’s trade strategy has long focused on curbing what he sees as unfair practices by Beijing. The BBC reports that, while the president claims over 75 countries have sought to negotiate with the U.S. over tariffs without retaliating, China’s Commerce Ministry has taken a firmer stance, vowing to “fight to the end” against what it called U.S. “blackmail.”

Global Concerns Grow

The head of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, warned that the back-and-forth tariff hikes could have serious consequences for the global economy, according to Barron’s. “This tit-for-tat approach,” she said, “could severely damage the global economic outlook.”

Trump, however, remains optimistic about a resolution. He told reporters he believed the U.S. and China would “end up making a very good deal” that would benefit both nations.

Strategic Shift

The Trump administration has long regarded China as the main strategic competitor to the U.S. and has signaled a shift in military focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. U.S. defense officials continue to view Beijing as Washington’s top long-term security challenge.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his hardline stance: “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”

What’s Next?

It remains unclear how far the economic standoff will go. The WTO has warned that trade between the U.S. and China could drop by as much as 80 percent if the dispute continues unchecked. Meanwhile, markets are watching closely for signs of either escalation – or resolution.