The US and China, the world’s two largest economies and most powerful militaries, are seen by many analysts as having a rivalry that will define the 21st century.
However, only one of the major US presidential candidates is consistently addressing US-China relations. According to BBC Verify, Republican nominee Donald Trump has referenced China 40 times across five rallies since the latest presidential debate. At a recent Michigan town hall, he mentioned China 27 times in one hour.
Trump has focused on economic tensions, proposing new tariffs on Chinese imports, warning against Chinese-made cars, and blaming China for the Covid pandemic. His rhetoric resonates with blue-collar voters in key Midwest battleground states, despite some economists questioning the impact of his policies on US consumers.
In contrast, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has made few references to China on the campaign trail. While she has spoken about taking action when China undermines US workers and companies, the contrast between Trump and Harris on this issue is clear.
At a recent event in rural Pennsylvania, Trump hosted a roundtable with local farmers to discuss China’s threat to the US food supply, where attendees voiced concerns about competing with Chinese imports.
