Beijing calls Vance 'ignorant' over 'Chinese peasants' remark

China has called US Vice-President JD Vance "ignorant and impolite" after he said America had been borrowing money from "Chinese peasants".

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Tuesday that Vance's comments - which had already caused a stir on Chinese social media - were "surprising and sad".

Vance made the comments on Thursday, during an interview on Fox News where he defended US President Donald Trump's tariffs - which are currently fuelling tensions between the world's two largest economies.

"We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture," the vice-president said.

On Monday, Trump gave China - one of the world's largest holders of US Treasury bonds - until Tuesday to scrap its 34% counter tariff or face an additional 50% tax on goods imported into the US.

If Trump acts on his threat, US companies could face a total rate of 104% on Chinese imports - as it comes on top of 20% tariffs already put in place in March and the 34% announced last week.

China has said it will "fight to the end" as it called Trump's moves "bullying".

"China's position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear," Lin said on Tuesday.

Vance's comments had already caused a stir among Chinese social media users, some of whom have called for him to be banned from entering China.

"As a key figure in the US government, it is really shameful for Vance to say such things," one Weibo user wrote.