Mao Zedong at work in his cave office in Date Garden. File photo.
By Olivia HU – Apr 10, 2025
Amid the ongoing tariff tit-for-tat frenzy, China might just take a leaf from Mao Zedongâs book to cope with the reckless hegemon the US is known to be.
As Chinese people watched the tariff war spiral out of control, there is one person they suddenly feel nostalgic forâChairman Mao. Thereâs a consensus in China that, among all leaders, Mao knew best how to handle the United States.
In the collective memory of the Chinese people, Mao is credited with pushing back U.S. forces during the Korean war and securing a safe external environment for China to develop its economy, pivotal for the newly-established socialist country.
Never has a piece of his advice seemed more relevant. Below are some of Maoâs most popular strategies, frequently quoted in academic forums, discussed on the Chinese internet, and even featured in trending merchandise
âThrow one punch to prevent a hundred blowsâ
A catchy phrase Mao Zedong used as his rationale for sending troops to Korea peninsula is now frequently referenced on Chinese social media during discussions of the ongoing tariff war.
Public opinion in China was divided when Trump first launched the trade war in 2018. Many questioned whether China, to some extent, deserve the punishmentâwas it aggressive âwolf warrior diplomacyâ or supposedly violations of trade rules that provoked the U.S.? -typical of Confucian self-reflection.
Such voices of appeasement have now naturally faded, as years of trade wars, high-tech blockades, and even political persecution of Chinese scientists in the U.S. have shattered lingering illusions about the legitimacy of USâs actions. A broad consensus has formed across Chinese society: the U.S.âs strategic containment of China cannot be altered by any one-sided overture of goodwill. When Chinaâs top diplomat Yang Jiechi said this to US officials in 2021 â âWe thought too well of youâ â the remark quickly appeared on many peopleâs T-shirts and phone cases.
Most Chinese have now come to the conclusion that given Chinaâs size and economic heft, caving to the U.S. pressure is simply not an option. Plus, China now holds far more cards than it did during Trumpâs first term.
In 2018, China faced critical technology bottlenecks in 35 areas, including lithography machines, semiconductors, tactile sensors, and components for medical imaging equipment. By 2025, China is expected to have overcome at least 85% of these bottlenecks.
Additionally, Chinaâs macroeconomic landscape has shifted significantly since Trumpâs first term. Exports now account for less than 20% of Chinaâs GDP, with exports to the U.S. representing only 14.7% of total exportsâa 4.5 percentage point drop compared to 2018 when they made up 19.2%.
While pressure is now indeed mounting on exporters, it is domestic stock market investors who are now bearing the brunt of the impact from this round of tariff war. On April 7, over 3,000 shares in Chinaâs A-share stock market hit their limit-down levels and the Growth Enterprise Market Index plummeting by 12.5%.
The Korean War, known in China as âthe war to resist US aggressors and aid Korea in defending the motherlandâ, once again appeared in public discourse. The slogan âEvery generation has its own Battle of Shangganglingâ became popular among people trying to boost morale-Shanggangling was a grueling battle in the Korean War that the Chinese army won. Since then, Shanggangling has become a symbol of perseverance in the face of hardship. Tariff war might be bloody, but itâs not invincible.
âWe will fight as long as they want to fight, and fight on until complete victory is achievedâ
This statement was made by Mao Zedong in February 1953, when no sign of armistice was on the horizon.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. echoed this sentiment in a tweet in early March: âIf the U.S. truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals. If war is what the U.S. wantsâbe it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of warâweâre ready to fight till the end.â
The most recent âwar mobilizationâ from Chinaâs leadership came from Chinese Premier Li Qiang who met with private business leaders yesterday, saying that: â I urge entrepreneurs to cultivate a deep sense of national responsibility, adapt proactively, and strengthen their enterprises, contributing to the countryâs development.â
A sense of wartime solidarity is quietly manifesting itself. Chinese company Jinhe Biotech, the worldâs largest producer of veterinary-grade chlortetracycline-a core growth promoter essential to the U.S. livestock industry-has recently announced plans to increase the price of its products in the U.S..
In additionďźto stabilize the stock market, hundreds of publicly traded companies, including CATL, Midea, and Kweichow Moutai, have announced share buybacks or significant shareholder investments, injecting over 10 billion yuan to bolster investor confidence. Today, the A-shares market finally received good news, opening with gains across the board as all three major indexes rose.
Guerrilla Warfare When Outnumbered
In Mao Zedongâs book âOn Guerrilla Warfareâ, he famously wrote âwhen guerrillas engage a stronger enemy, they withdraw when he advances; harass him when he stops; strike him when he is weary; pursue him when he withdraws.âIn other words, every move should be a carefully calculated response to your enemyâs move. Nothing is preordained. Chinese stakeholders have long considered the following three scenarios:
⢠Scenario 1: If all nations stand firm against the U.S., its supply chains could be severely disrupted.
⢠Scenario 2: If some resist while others compromise, the markets of resisting nations could be taken over by those who capitulate.
⢠Scenario 3: If all nation concede, the U.S. might achieve a short-term victory, but the possibility of second and third rounds of conflict remain.
Reality seems to be aligning with the second scenario. Yesterday, the European Union announced retaliatory tariffs of 25%, prompting Trump to backtrack on tariffs for most nations within hours, granting a 90-day reprieve.
China’s Response to Trump Bullying With Additional 50% Tariffs: We Will Not Accept Threats
Whatâs Chinaâs next move then? If Chin becomes the target of Trumpâs highest tariffs, Chinese companies will most likely find ways to circumvent costsâwhether by rerouting trade or establishing overseas factories, and this aligns with Chinaâs âgo globalâ policy anyway.
This is not the first time Chinaâs exports have faced a difficult situation. As a member of the Gen Z who grew up in mainland China, I vividly remember seeing on TV news about Chinese companies facing anti-dumping measures and various sanctions abroad. China knows the art of adapting by heart-a knee jerk reaction that has protected Chinese companies back then and will continue to do so now.
Conclusion
To withstand all the turmoil and confusion generated by Trump, Chinese people turn to its reservoir of collective memory for both strength and guidance. In the 1980s, people used to look to the U.S. for lessons during times of loss. They now choose to open Mao Zedongâs Quotations. Chinese youth no longer see it as the beacon of democracy, or frankly, as the beacon of anything at all.
