The Chinese government strongly condemned US Vice President JD Vance for referring to the Chinese people as "peasants" during a Fox News interview. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the remarks "astonishing and lamentable," highlighting their ignorance and disrespect.
Vance's comments generated significant backlash on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo. The hashtag related to his remarks quickly trended, accumulating millions of views. Many commentators pointed out the irony given Vance's own working-class background, as detailed in his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy." Some retorted that even if considered "peasants," China boasts advanced infrastructure and technological capabilities.
During the Fox News interview, Vance defended Trump's tariffs, criticizing the "globalist economy." He claimed that the US borrows money from "Chinese peasants" to purchase goods manufactured by them.
CNN reached out to Vance's office for comment, but the response is not included in the article.