Posts

China Acknowledges Its Role in Years of Cyberattacks Against U.S. Over Support of Taiwan: Report

/1 Comment/in , /by

Chinese officials shocked their American counterparts during a secret meeting where they allegedly revealed Beijing was behind a series of cyberattacks against the US due to Washington’s support of Taiwan, according to a new report.

Officials from China and the former Biden administration met in secret last December in Geneva, Switzerland amid growing tensions over threats to Taiwan’s sovereignty — with Beijing dropping all pretenses and revealing that they played a role in hacking attacks on US ports, water utilities, airports, and other targets dating back years, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The extent of Beijing’s role was left ambiguous, but US officials interpreted it as a clear threat regarding America’s support of Taiwan as an independent nation, officials familiar with the meeting told the outlet.

The secret meeting was held with top officials from both nations and led by Nate Fick, the then-US ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy, along with Wang Lei, a top cyber official with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials said.

While China had previously blamed all claims of cyberattacks and espionage on rogue hackers, such as the Volt Typhoon group, Wang made it clear that the hacks were a direct result of the situation in Taiwan, which Beijing insists will be annexed in the coming years. (Read more from “China Acknowledges Its Role in Years of Cyberattacks Against U.S. Over Support of Taiwan: Report” HERE)

China Floats Possibility Of Killing More Americans In Response To Tariffs

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Two bloggers linked to China’s government floated the idea of upping the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. in retaliation to President Trump’s tariffs, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reported Tuesday.

Both Niu Tanquin and a blogger known as Rabbit Chairman posted messages on Chinese social media suggesting the state was preparing to end cooperation with the U.S. on fentanyl, according to screenshots which Yoon posted to X.

Two bloggers linked to China’s government floated the idea of upping the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. in retaliation to President Trump’s tariffs, CNBC’s Eunice Yoon reported Tuesday.

Both Niu Tanquin and a blogger known as Rabbit Chairman posted messages on Chinese social media suggesting the state was preparing to end cooperation with the U.S. on fentanyl, according to screenshots which Yoon posted to X.

The bloggers shared a set of virtually identical bullet points outlining six policy responses China was preparing to counter Trump’s tariffs. Among the points were plans to slap tariffs on US soybean imports, ban US poultry imports and ban US films in China.

(Read more from “China Floats Possibility Of Killing More Americans In Response To Tariffs” HERE)

How China Has Amped up Its Factories and Is Threatening to Crush U.S. Industry With a New ‘Tsunami’ of Cheap Products

/1 Comment/in , /by

A $1.9 trillion “tsunami” is headed for American industry — and it’s coming from China.

The Communist country of 1.3 billion people has shifted that much cash into amping up its factories in just four years in an effort to overwhelm manufacturers around the world with an influx of cheap goods.

President Trump’s 125% tariff on all Chinese imports into the US — which he announced Wednesday as he paused steep duties on most other countries — is actually just the latest protective measure against China.

The European Union, Brazil, Mexico and Thailand have either imposed new tariffs in the last few months, or are considering such measures to protect their own industries from Chinese imports.

“The tsunami is coming for everyone,” said Katherine Tai, trade representative for former President Joe Biden, told The New York Times. (Read more from “How China Has Amped up Its Factories and Is Threatening to Crush U.S. Industry With a New ‘Tsunami’ of Cheap Products” HERE)

Bessent Had the Perfect Response to China Raising Tariffs on U.S. Goods

/0 Comments/in , , /by

China said it is raising tariffs on U.S. imports from 34 percent to 84 percent starting Thursday, an announcement that came hours after President Trump’s tariffs went into effect.

“If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a document, reports USA Today.

The latest tariffs on the U.S.’s trading partners includes a 104 percent tax on Chinese goods. . .

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the escalation a “loser” for China.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the Chinese actually don’t want to come and negotiate because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system,” he said. “And I can tell you that this escalation is a loser for them.”

(Read more from “Bessent Had the Perfect Response to China Raising Tariffs on U.S. Goods” HERE)

Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs for Imposing Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump is threatening China with additional 50-percent tariffs in response to President Xi Jinping’s announcement that the communist country would impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States.

Last week, during a speech in the Rose Garden, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on countries that have historically imposed high tariffs on the United States. Among those countries is China, which Trump slapped a 34-percent tariff on in addition to the tariffs that have been in place on China since Trump’s first term that former President Joe Biden did not end.

In response to the reciprocal tariffs, China announced retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on U.S. goods. Now, Trump says that if the tariffs against the United States are not withdrawn, China will face an additional 50-percent tariff.

“Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set,” Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

(Read more from “Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs for Imposing Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump eliminated trade exemptions with China and Hong Kong this week to combat illicit substance imports.

As part of his sweeping executive orders instituting tariffs on various nations this week, the president eliminated exemptions to address deceptive shipping practices from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong. Recognizing China’s role in the ongoing U.S. opioid crisis, the president suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less.

Under “duty-free de minimis,” shipments could enter the United States free of import duties or taxes so long as they were valued at $800 or less. The Trump administration charged that the PRC exploited this exemption by breaking large shipments into smaller pieces for the purpose of concealing illicit substances. (Read more from “Trump Eliminates China, Hong Kong Trade Exemptions to Combat Illicit Substance Imports” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Thursday demanded President Donald Trump immediately rescind the tariffs he announced on Wednesday, threatening unspecified “countermeasures” if he does not comply.

The Chinese ministry issued a statement accusing the United States of “unilateralism” and “protectionism.”

“The so-called reciprocal tariffs have violated international trade rules and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, and are a typical act of unilateral bullying,” the statement said.

“China firmly opposes the move and will take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry threatened.

At a brief press conference on Thursday, the ministry said China would respond to the tariffs by intensifying trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. The ministry added that “communications” with the Trump administration would continue. (Read more from “China Threatens U.S. With Retaliation if Trump Keeps Tariffs HERE)

Intel Report: China Poses Biggest Military, Cyber Threat to U.S.

/0 Comments/in , /by

China poses the biggest military and cyber threat to the U.S. as well as wider global security while it makes “steady” progress towards having the ability to invade Taiwan, a U.S. intelligence report warned Tuesday.

Beijing has the ability to hit the United States with conventional weapons; compromise U.S. infrastructure through cyber attacks; and target its assets in space, the Annual Threat Assessment by the intelligence community said, adding the Communist dictatorship also seeks to displace the United States as the top AI power by 2030.

AFP reports Beijing’s “coercive pressure” against Taiwan and “wide-ranging cyber operations against US targets” flag its growing threat to U.S. national security, according to the assessment.

“China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to U.S. national security,” the report said.

The report provides an overview of the collective insights of top U.S. intelligence agencies about the security threats to the U.S. posed by foreign nations and criminal organizations, the AFP report notes. (Read more from “Intel Report: China Poses Biggest Military, Cyber Threat to U.S.” HERE)

China Says It’s ‘Ready’ For Any ‘Type Of War’ With U.S. After Trump Doubles Tariffs

/5 Comments/in , , /by

China responded after President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on the communist country on Tuesday, saying that it is “ready” for “any … type of war” and will “fight till the end.”

Trump doubled the tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20% as 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico also went into effect Tuesday morning. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told The New York Times that Trump’s insistence that China do more to curb fentanyl trafficking into the United States “is a flimsy excuse to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.”

“The U.S., not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis inside the U.S. In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the U.S. in dealing with the issue,” Lin said, adding, “If the U.S. truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit to address each other’s concerns.”

The communist government spokesman then warned that China was “ready” for war.

“If the U.S. has other agenda in mind and if war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” Lin said. “We urge the U.S. to stop being domineering and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation at an early date.” (Read more from “China Says It’s ‘Ready’ For Any ‘Type Of War’ With U.S. After Trump Doubles Tariffs” HERE)

Trump’s Tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico Take Effect

/0 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico took effect at midnight Tuesday morning, increasing the taxes that U.S. importers will pay on certain goods when they enter the country.

Effective Tuesday, U.S. imports from China, the third-largest U.S. trading partner, will be subject to a new 10% tariff on top of the initial 10% tariff he imposed on Chinese goods last month.

Tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico – America’s two largest bilateral trading partners, according to Census Bureau data – are also set to rise, with 25% tariffs levied on all imports from the two countries. The tariffs include a carve-out for a lower 10% tariff on Canadian oil imports.

President Trump was asked on Monday whether there was room left for any room left for Canada or Mexico to make a deal to avoid tariffs and he replied, “No room left for Mexico or for Canada. No, the tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow.”

Shortly after taking office in January, Trump announced he would impose tariffs on the three countries and cited the flows of illegal fentanyl shipments across the Mexican and Canadian borders, as well as precursor chemicals for fentanyl shipped from China. He cited authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). (Read more from “Trump’s Tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico Take Effect” HERE)