The US president has cautioned China and other trade partners against further intensifying the trade conflict.
President Donald Trump has highlighted the US’s powerful military and weaponry, describing them as so advanced that “nobody has any idea” about them, amidst concerns that his trade dispute with China might escalate.
Trump increased tariffs on Chinese products to 25% on Wednesday, responding to similar actions taken by Beijing. China hasn’t yet responded to the latest tariff increase, although its Ministry of Commerce previously pledged to resist the trade war “to the end.”
When asked if he was “concerned” about China’s potential response – and possible “escalation beyond the trade war” – Trump suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping is “one of the very smart people of the world” who would prevent such an escalation.
In 2020, Trump mentioned a “super duper missile” that he claimed was “17 times faster” than any weapon held by America’s rivals. He also alleged that Russia’s advancements in hypersonic technology stemmed from the theft of US missile designs during Barack Obama’s presidency – despite the US not yet having a fully operational hypersonic weapon.
Over the past decade, Russia and China have moved ahead in developing hypersonic weapons. Russia introduced its first such system, the air-launched Kinzhal missile, in 2017, while China unveiled its DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle two years later.
Russia has deployed both Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic missiles in the Ukraine conflict. Last November, Moscow also conducted the initial combat test of its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, equipped with multiple independently targetable warheads capable of hypersonic speeds.