We will never yield: Mao Zedong video resurfaces amid tariffs’ tug-of-war

Amid rising trade tensions between China and the United States over tariffs, a vintage video of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong resurfaced on social media. The black-and-white clip is from 1953, when China was fighting the US in the Korean War.

The video resurfaced after sharp remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. Posting the clip on X (formerly Twitter), Mao Ning wrote, “We are Chinese. We are not afraid of provocations. We don’t back down.”

In the video, Mao Zedong says, “As to how long this war will last, we are not the ones who can decide. It used to depend on President Truman, and it will depend on President Eisenhower or whoever becomes the next US president. It’s up to them.”

He adds firmly, “No matter how long this war is going to last, we will never yield. We’ll fight until we completely triumph.”

TIT-FOR-TAT TARIFFS INTENSIFY BETWEEN US AND CHINA

The background to that statement is rising trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. US President Donald Trump’s sharp increase in tariffs on Chinese products brings Washington’s extra rate on most products to 145 percent.

China responded on Friday by raising tariffs on US goods to 125 percent from 84 percent.

The tariff war has been escalating rapidly. On April 2, President Trump threatened a 50 percent additional tariff if China retaliated with more duties. When China raised its rate on April 10, the US retaliated promptly with its own rate hike.

Calling these US measures “groundless,” a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce said they reflect “unilateral bullying” by Washington.