Will trade war between USA and China escalate into actual war: Political scientist's opinion

"I think neither Trump nor the USA is ready for such a war. I believe both sides are concerned that it could lead to a political conflict. On the contrary, the way Trump is currently handling Taiwan, it benefits China. They can take a pause, and then, once relations with the USA and Trump are settled, they can intensify pressure on Taiwan," said Fesenko.

And essentially, according to the political scientist, it will only be a matter of time before they take control over Taiwan, either economically or politically, without any war.

"I don’t think there’s a need for direct military action between China and the USA right now. But a trade war is possible. This is like the famous tale where two bulls meet on a bridge. If they don’t want to compromise, don’t act rationally, and just push against each other, then even flare-ups of a major trade war within six months could be a big risk. In any case, it’s hard to imagine the negative consequences," Fesenko noted.

Trade war between the USA and China

US President Donald Trump initiated a trade war against China on April 2, by imposing tariffs on all goods from China at a rate of 54%.

In response, China began to retaliate symmetrically against US actions.

By April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for the largest trading partners. However, he increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, further escalating the confrontation between the two largest economies in the world.

Today, it was revealed that China raised tariffs on all goods from the USA from 84% to 125%. The changes will take effect on April 12.

Earlier, China promised to "fight to the end" in the tariff war with Trump, calling US tariffs blackmail.