The CCP’s Crisis and Its Illusory Strengths Amid the China–US Trade War

The Chinese Communist Party will face an existential crisis as the tariff war drags on, while its perceived ‘advantages’ will prove to be illusions.

A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 26, 2025. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

As tariffs between the United States and China skyrocketed—Washington raised duties to 145 percent and Beijing retaliated with 125 percent—the trade war entered an unprecedented second stage. This high-stakes standoff is not merely about economics; it challenges the resilience of both political systems and has significant global implications.