Chinese official says US tariff aims to 'take away Hong Kong's life'

15/4/2025 12:20

One of China's top officials overseeing Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, said on Tuesday that the United States' tariff war was "extremely shameless" and aims to "take away Hong Kong's life".



Xia, the director of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, said bullying had never worked on Chinese people, including those from Hong Kong.



Xia said that "let those peasants in the United States wail in front of the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation".



Xia said in a televised speech on Hong Kong's National Security Education day, "The Chinese people do not cause trouble, nor are they afraid of trouble. Pressure, threats and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China."



The comments came after China hiked its levies on imports of U.S. goods to 125%, hitting back at U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to single out the world's No.2 economy for effectively raising tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%.



U.S. Vice President JD Vance said this month the U.S. borrows and buys from "Chinese peasants", remarks that drew condemnation in China.