As tensions between the United States and China escalate over trade, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong response to Beijing’s latest warning, signaling that the U.S. is prepared for any confrontation.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, Hegseth addressed a post from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. that was published on X late Tuesday.

The post stated, “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.”

Elon Musk Called This Financial News 'Terrifying'

Hegseth responded to the statement with a direct message of his own.

“Well, we’re prepared. Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” the defense secretary said.

Hegseth, 44, emphasized that the U.S. military is being strengthened under President Donald Trump’s leadership.

“That’s why we’re rebuilding our military,” he added. “If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong, and that president understands peace comes through strength.”

Despite the increasingly heated rhetoric, Hegseth noted that Trump maintains a “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He explained that while the two nations are in a fierce economic battle, there are still areas where they can cooperate.

“Where we can work together, we will. The president is seeking peace and opportunities,” Hegseth said.

“But my job as the secretary of defense is to make sure we’re ready. We need the defense spending, the capabilities, the weapons, and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we’re very much focused on.”

Hegseth’s comments come as China moves to further modernize its military.

This week, Beijing announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget as part of an effort to expand its military capabilities.

China remains the world’s second-largest military spender behind the United States and currently has the largest navy in the world.

The trade war between the U.S. and China saw a major escalation this week after Trump announced that tariffs on Chinese imports would be doubled to 20%.

In response, Beijing imposed up to 15% reciprocal tariffs on select American agricultural products.

Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext for imposing tariffs. Beijing argues that the United States is solely responsible for addressing its fentanyl problem.

Trump has repeatedly criticized China for failing to curb the export of fentanyl, which has contributed to the opioid crisis in the U.S.

The president has also pointed to Mexico and Canada, calling on both countries to strengthen their efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking.

In conjunction with the new tariffs on China, Trump also implemented a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada.

While the latest tariffs have drawn international attention, the White House is reportedly considering certain exemptions.

An announcement regarding potential carveouts could come as soon as Wednesday.

As economic and military tensions continue to rise between the U.S. and China, both sides are preparing for a prolonged standoff.

With Hegseth reaffirming America’s military readiness and Trump enforcing economic pressure, the trade conflict is showing no signs of de-escalation in the near future.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.