China on Tuesday slammed US Vice President JD Vance for referring to the Chinese people as “peasants” in an interview that has drawn widespread ire and ridicule on China’s internet – and comparisons with Vance’s own self-proclaimed “hillbilly” background.

One social media user felt the loaded word that the vice president used was indicative of, “Racism, imperialism, arrogance and ignorance.”

Vance described the national debt as borrowing and buying from "Chinese peasants." The foreign ministry hit back ahead of 104% tariff rate hike.