The US is "prepared" to go to war with China as the trade war between the two countries heats up, defence secretary Pete Hegseth has declared.
The bold statement comes in response to the Chinese Embassy sharing online that it was "ready to fight till the end" whether it be in the form of a "tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war".
"Well, we're prepared. Those who long for peace must prepare for war," the Pentagon chief told Fox on Wednesday morning, adding: "That's why we're rebuilding our military".
"If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong, and that president understands peace comes through strength," Hegseth added.
The defense secretary has insisted that Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have a "great" relationship
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The defence secretary has insisted that Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have a "great" relationship - despite the two global superpowers sprinting into a trade war.
Hegseth added that the two countries will cooperate where they can as the US President continues to seek peace.
Nevertheless, he added: "But my job as the secretary of defence is to make sure we're ready. We need the defence spending, the capabilities, the weapons and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we're very much focused on."
He said: "If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong, and that president understands peace comes through strength."
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China - equipped with the biggest navy in the world - trails behind the US in defence spending.
Earlier this week, the Chinese government announced that it would raise its defence spending by 7.2 per cent which will contribute to its attempt to modernise its army.
The war of words has persisted - just days after the US President announced that it would impose 20 per cent tariffs over their claims of Chinese inaction regarding the amount of fentanyl flowing into the US.
On Tuesday, Trump revealed that he planned to impose more tariffs on China - starting from April - which are set to include "reciprocal tariffs" as well as non-tariff actions.
Meanwhile, China has become increasingly active in Asia and the Pacific - conducting live-fire drills just off Australian shores and military exercises near Vietnam and Taiwan.
China is understood to be working on a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in its latest attempt to bring its military up to speed with that of America (Stock)
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China is now understood to be working on a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in its latest attempt to bring its military up to speed with that of America.
On Wednesday, China's foreign affairs ministry shared online: "Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating.
"If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals."
A spokesperson has denied China's involvement in the fentanyl crisis sweeping America, blaming the US for the country's fentanyl crisis.
"In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the US. in dealing with the issue. Instead of recognising our efforts, the US has sought to smear and shift blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes," the statement read.
"They've been PUNISHING us for helping them. This is not going to solve the US' problem and will undermine our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation."
