The United States and China are the two biggest economies and have the most powerful militaries in the world. Many experts believe their rivalry will define global issues in the 21st century. Right now, only one of the two major U.S. presidential candidates is consistently talking about the U.S.-China relationship.
According to BBC Verify, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has mentioned China 40 times in just five rallies since a debate earlier this month. At one town hall event in Michigan, he talked about China 27 times in just one hour.
Trump portrays China as a threat to the U.S., accusing it of unfair economic practices. He has promised to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods and other imports if he becomes president again, saying he wants to block Chinese-made cars from being sold in America, fearing they’ll harm the U.S. auto industry.
He has also blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic and warned against China replacing the U.S. dollar as the world’s main currency. Many economists are skeptical of Trump’s tariff plans, saying they would end up hurting American consumers, as BBC points out.
Meanwhile, the current administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has kept many of the tariffs that Trump imposed during his first presidency.
Trump’s focus on tariffs appeals to blue-collar workers, especially in industrial states like Michigan, who have been affected by competition from Chinese manufacturers.
However, BBC Verify found that Harris hasn’t spoken much about China in her recent speeches. Since the 10th of September debate, she didn’t mention China at all in six rallies, though she did briefly bring it up in a speech in Pittsburgh. Harris stated she would act strongly if China harmed American workers or companies. A Harris aide told BBC that she does have a record of countering China but doesn’t focus on it as much as Trump does on the campaign trail.
Recently, Trump spoke at a meeting with farmers in Pennsylvania about the threat China poses, including the competition from cheaper Chinese products.
He promised to protect American industries like steel in case of a war with China. One of Trump’s advisors, Richard Grenell, emphasized that China has been quietly working against the U.S. for years.
On the other hand, Harris, if elected, might continue with the current Biden administration’s policies, which also view China as a competitor but with a less confrontational approach.
According to polls shared by BBC, most American voters don’t consider China a top issue, ranking behind concerns like the economy, immigration, and healthcare.
In Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, polls show Harris and Trump tied, and while China might not be the most important issue for voters there, discussing it could sway undecided voters, according to a local Republican official, as reported by BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgvr9kgkqyo