Where the Republican Candidates Stand on China
The Republican field is in near-unanimous agreement on one thing: that China poses the biggest threat to the United States. Several have described the relationship between the two countries as “a new Cold War.”
Where they disagree is on whether any long-term cooperation with China is desirable and, if not, on how completely — and how quickly — the United States should go about severing the countries’ highly intertwined economies.
Donald J. Trump
Former PresidentHe promotes himself as tough on China, but his record and rhetoric are not so straightforward.
I will implement a bold series of reforms
to completely eliminate dependence on China
in all critical areas.
We will revoke China’s most-favored nation trade status
and adopt a four-year plan to phase out all Chinese imports
of essential goods, everything from electronics to steel
to pharmaceuticals.
This will include strong protections to ensure China
cannot circumvent restrictions by passing goods through
conduit countries.
We will also adopt new rules to stop U.S. companies
from pouring investments into China
and to stop China from buying up America, allowing
all of those investments that clearly
serve American interests.
We’re not going to allow bad things to happen
to our country anymore, and we will eliminate federal
contracts for any company that outsources to China.
Nikki Haley
Former Governor of South Carolina Dropped outShe opposes any economic cooperation and has left the door open to military force.
Nikki Haley, who served as United Nations ambassador under Mr. Trump, has called for ending normal trade relations with China until it “stops killing Americans,” a reference to deaths caused by fentanyl. China exports essential ingredients for fentanyl, often to Mexico, where the drug is manufactured in large quantities.
Ron DeSantis
Governor of Florida Dropped outHe has signed some aggressive legislation in Florida and wants to do so nationally.
We have to restore the economic sovereignty
of this country and take back control of our economy
from China.
This abusive —
the abusive relationship,
the asymmetric relationship between our two countries
must come to an end.
No more massive trade deficits.
No more importing of goods with stolen
intellectual property.
No more preferential trade status.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Entrepreneur Dropped outHe has proposed hard-line policies, including forbidding U.S. companies to do business in China.
Vivek Ramaswamy, like many candidates, describes China as the biggest geopolitical and military threat to the United States.
Asa Hutchinson
Former Governor of Arkansas Dropped outUnlike many G.O.P. contenders, he believes a trade relationship with China can be maintained.
That position held by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas sets him apart from more hawkish competitors.
Chris Christie
Former Governor of New Jersey Dropped outHe has outlined negotiating tactics to pressure China to make concessions.
“For your children and my grandchildren, are they going to live in a world where China is setting the tone for this world, a communist dictatorship?”
Doug Burgum
Governor of North Dakota Dropped outHis stance on China centers on strengthening the U.S. economy through deregulation.
Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota says the United States is in a cold war with China and needs greater economic strength to win.
Tim Scott
Senator from South Carolina Dropped outHe proposes to beat China economically through deregulation.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina has said that the United States is in “a new cold war” with China and, in an ad in July, called China “the biggest threat to America’s security.”
Mike Pence
Former Vice President Dropped outHis hawkish stances are outlined in greater detail than the positions of most others in the field.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has outlined an expansive policy that includes ending normal trade relations, imposing sanctions and canceling Chinese holdings of U.S. Treasury debt.
Will Hurd
Former United States Representative Dropped outUnlike many G.O.P. contenders, he believes a trade relationship with China can be maintained.
Former Representative Will Hurd of Texas has said for years that the United States is in a “new cold war” with China, while emphasizing that the conflict is with the Chinese government, not the Chinese people or Chinese Americans.
Francis Suarez
Mayor of Miami Dropped outHe wants to reduce the trade deficit by giving U.S. companies incentives to leave China.
“As the son of exiles from a communist country, I understand the threat of Communist China in a way that I think no other candidate does.”