On the 100th day of President Donald Trump's second term, China issued a defiant video titled 'Never Kneel Down!' which was a direct response to Trump's new aggressive trade policies, particularly the imposition of a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. The video, released by China's Foreign Ministry, used dramatic imagery and AI narration to assert that China will not bow to U.S. pressure, accusing the U.S. of coercive trade practices and portraying American tariffs as a 'deadly trap'. China's retaliation included imposing a 125% tariff on U.S. goods, but analysts suggest that China might be in a weaker position. The video also taps into historical narratives of resistance against Western dominance, depicting China as a victim of U.S. bullying while domestic economic pressures, such as high youth unemployment and slow GDP growth, mount within China. This escalating trade rhetoric reflects ongoing tensions and highlights the broader geopolitical struggle between the two nations, as Trump's tactics continue to unsettle Chinese economic policymakers.

China released a propaganda video on President Trump's 100th day in office, titled 'Never Kneel Down!', which openly challenged U.S. leadership and criticized Trump's aggressive trade policies.

The video, disseminated via China's Foreign Ministry's official account, utilized storm imagery and AI narration to warn against U.S. pressure, accusing the U.S. of coercive tactics and characterizing American tariff strategies as a 'deadly trap'.

In response to Trump's 145% tariff on Chinese imports, China imposed a 125% tariff on U.S. goods, although many analysts believe that China may be in a weaker economic position to sustain such a trade war.

The video taps into historical narratives of resistance and portrays China as a victim of Western bullying, using imagery from past conflicts and emphasizing a theme of defiance against perceived Western dominance.

China's defiance comes at a time of domestic economic challenges, including record high youth unemployment and slowed GDP growth, as reported by Bloomberg Economics and the IMF.

This situation marks a continuation of trade tensions that began during Trump's first term, where tariffs on over $360 billion of Chinese goods were imposed, leading to the Phase One Trade Deal in 2020.

The escalating trade conflict underscores the broader geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China, with Trump's policies creating significant apprehension among Chinese economic policymakers.