Rough words, but not rough logic? U.S. Vice President Vance's call for Chinese people as country bumpkins sparks outrage.

Recently, U.S. Vice President Vance made controversial remarks during an interview on Fox News, using derogatory terms to describe Chinese people, which sparked public outcry. Multiple media outlets and netizens criticized his comments as "rude and ignorant," and sarcastically suggested that he "should go to China for a firsthand look."
In an interview on April 4, Vance claimed regarding the U.S. trade policy towards China: "The globalized economy has burdened the U.S. with massive debt to purchase goods made by other countries. In plain terms, it’s borrowing money from China’s 'peasants' and then buying things made by China’s 'peasants.'" This statement quickly gained traction on social media, drawing widespread criticism.
The term "乡巴佬" is said to be full of discrimination.
According to the explanations of the Cambridge Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary, the term "peasant" usually carries a derogatory meaning, implying a group of people with low social status who live by farming, and it is heavily laden with historical and class connotations. In contrast, "farmer" is a neutral term. Vance's use of this wording is considered to be full of arrogance and prejudice.
The American news website BuzzFeed sarcastically noted in an article on the 6th, "If there is one thing that Vice President Vance is sure to do, it is to embarrass Americans around the world." Many netizens also left comments criticizing it.
"It's 2025, and a vice president actually refers to Chinese people as 'country bumpkins'? It's truly unbelievable."
"Speaking like this is not only rude but also ignorant; he really should go see China."
Some netizens even ridiculed: "'Chinese hillbilly' enjoys the world's longest high-speed rail network, the most advanced electric vehicles, lives in one of the safest countries, and has good quality and cheap medical care - such a 'hillbilly' life, Vance is afraid it is unimaginable." ”
Public opinion questions Vance's outdated cognition.
As the events unfolded, more and more netizens pointed out that Vance's remarks revealed his stereotypes about China. "Is he still living in the 1950s?" wrote a highly upvoted comment.
In recent years, China's rapid development in technology, infrastructure, and people's livelihoods has been evident, while Vance's remarks are seriously disconnected from the facts. Analysts believe that such inappropriate comments not only do not help solve America's own economic problems but may also further damage the relations between the two countries.
As of now, the White House has not responded to Vance's remarks. However, the wave of criticism in the public opinion arena shows that this vice president's "gaffe" has embarrassed many American citizens.
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