Tensions between the U.S. and China are escalating due to President Trump's tariff policy, and remarks made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance that belittle Chinese people are causing controversy. Criticism is spreading not only in Chinese state media but also within the United States.
The Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times criticized Vice President Vance's remark referring to Chinese people as 'peasants' in an article titled 'U.S. officials' comments about China shock American netizens amid market turmoil,' published on the 8th.
Vice President Vance, during an appearance on Fox News on the 3rd (local time), said, 'We borrow money from those Chinese peasants and buy the things they make.' He further emphasized, 'We must ask ourselves what economic globalization has brought to America,' suggesting it has led to massive liabilities and the purchase of foreign-made goods.
The problem lies in the expression 'Chinese peasants.' This term has historically been used to derogate serfs and the poor, and using it to refer to citizens of a specific country in an official setting can raise controversies over racial and cultural discrimination.
Global Times pointed out, 'A senior White House official used shocking expressions towards China,' adding, 'This comes as pushback against the U.S. comprehensive tariff policy is growing.' It also quoted American media and netizens, stating that they are unable to contain their shock, citing reporting from the U.S. news outlet BuzzFeed.
BuzzFeed criticized, 'Vice President Vance's remarks were insulting expressions made during discussions on trade policy with China,' stating, 'What he did was only to embarrass Americans worldwide.'
Chinese state media also raised concerns about recent remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Vance. According to Reuters, Secretary Vance indicated in a recent interview with conservative commentators that the cause of the stock market crash was not President Trump's tariff policy but the emergence of the Chinese AI chatbot model 'DeepSeek.'
He claimed, 'I want to speak to those who believe the president's economic policies led to the decline in stock prices. The decline began with the announcement of DeepSeek.'
In response, Lu Xiang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stated, 'Such remarks reveal the anxiety and ineptitude of American politicians,' assessing it as an attempt to blame China for America's economic issues.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued an official response. Spokesperson Lin Jian criticized during a regular briefing, 'I find it both surprising and sad to hear the Vice President make such ignorant and rude remarks.'