Horror as expert pinpoints 'greatest single probable cause' of WW3

The most likely cause of a new global war has been pinned down by an expert, days after China's Foreign Ministry told the US: "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end." The Trump administration is locked in a trade war with China after placing a 145% tariff on Beijing, despite introducing a 90-day pause on other countries hit with higher tariffs.

China responded with a 125% tariff on the US and there are fears this could potentially escalate and see China threaten to invade neighbouring Taiwan to make Washington back-pedal, The Sun reports. Former first secretary of the UK embassy in Beijing, Professor Kerry Brown, warned any Chinese action on Taiwan could have significant consequences. He told the publication: "Taiwan is the greatest single probable cause of a global conflict that exists.

"Were China to make a military aggressive move on Taiwan, global politics would change instantaneously.

"China would move from being a competitor and adversary to being an outright enemy because it would be attacking a democracy."

China claims Taiwan - a US ally - as part of its territory, viewing the self-ruled island nation as a breakaway province.

Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to take Taiwan which is around 100 miles off China’s south-east coast.

China has conducted a number of military drills around Taiwan, with G7 foreign ministers expressing “deep concern” over the latest exercises.

The Chinese navy is believed to be the biggest in the world as China continues to rapidly advance its military capabilities.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier this week said the alliance “cannot be naive” over China as he raised concern about the nation’s arms buildup and military drills near Taiwan.

Last month, China sent a chilling warning to the US after President Donald Trump slapped tariffs of 20% on Chinese products across the board - significantly less than the tariffs today.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington wrote on X: "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end."