Election race heats up: Harris and Trump battle over China policy
Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have presented a tough stance toward Beijing. According to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, this suggests that as the elections approach, the United States' critical attitude may intensify.
"SCMP" notes that during the debate between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, "both fought over who would take a tougher approach towards China".
Although China was not one of the main topics of discussion, Trump boasted about the $200 billion tariffs he imposed on a wide range of goods imported from China in 2018, which he claimed brought billions and billions of dollars from China, the newspaper notes.
The Republican candidate also said in the debate that China "will pay a higher price" because of the tariffs he intends to impose on Chinese electric vehicles imported from Mexico.
Cited by "SCMP", expert from the Washington think tank Defence Priorities Michael DiMino assessed that "Trump made it very clear that he intends to maintain a tough stance towards Beijing, especially with regards to sanctions and trade."
Harris, who - as "SCMP" points out - has said little about tariffs on China since she became the Democratic candidate for president - criticized Trump in the debate for provoking "trade wars," and also stated that Trump "sold us out" by selling chips to China that helped them develop their military.
Candidates' tough stance on China
The Vice President also criticized Chinese leader Xi Jinping for "lack of transparency about the origin of COVID-19."
Neil Thomas, a China specialist at the New York organization Asia Society, told "SCMP" that the tough stance of both candidates on China suggests that as the elections approach, "more opposition towards Beijing" can be expected.
