[Source/Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]

In the midst of the tariff dispute initiated by the US, which has continuously intensified Sino-US relations, the new US Ambassador to China has assumed office. According to reports from AP and others on the 30th, local time on Tuesday (the 29th), the US Senate confirmed David Perdue (David Perdue), 75-year-old Republican, as the US Ambassador to China with a vote of 67 in favor and 29 against.

Comprehensive reports from Fox News and other US media outlets indicate that at the confirmation hearing held early this month, Perdue described Sino-US relations as "the most critical diplomatic challenge of the 21st century," while claiming he would handle China-US relations with "meticulous, nonpartisan, and strategic approaches."

Despite shouldering the heavy responsibility of easing Sino-US tensions, as a long-time ally of Trump, Perdue emphasized his loyalty to Trump during the hearing and reiterated his hawkish stance on China, falsely claiming that China is engaged in a "new type of war" with the US and groundlessly accusing China of posing a threat to "the current world order."

In addition, he repeated the Trump administration's habitual scapegoating tactics on the fentanyl issue, stating that curbing the export of precursor chemicals to China will be one of his "top priorities" after taking office.

On April 3rd local time, David Perdue attended the confirmation hearing. Video screenshot.

On December 5th, 2024, when Trump won the election, he announced that he had chosen David Perdue as the US Ambassador to China for the new US administration.

In the nomination statement, Trump stated that Perdue has 40 years of international business experience, having lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, and the majority of his career was spent working in Asia and China.

Trump emphasized at the time that Perdue’s invaluable expertise would help implement strategies to maintain peace in the region and play a significant role in establishing productive working relationships with China.

Different from his predecessor Burns’ career as a professional diplomat, Perdue spent most of his career in the business sector. Before entering politics, he served as CEO or executive in several well-known companies such as Sara Lee, Reebok, and Dollar General, gaining extensive experience in global supply chains.

In 2014, Perdue successfully ran for senator, entering politics for the first time. From 2015 to 2021, he served as a senator for the state of Georgia, and failed in his 2022 bid for governor of Georgia. In 2019, during the 40th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations, Perdue visited China with Steve Daines, then co-chair of the US Senate China Working Group.

Perdue has been a long-time supporter of Trump. During his campaign for governor, he also promoted Trump's claim of "election fraud in 2020," while asserting that his victory in the 2020 senatorial race was "stolen" by the Democratic opponent.

According to AP reports, during his time in business, Perdue faced criticism from opponents for outsourcing jobs to China; however, during this month's hearing, he actively endorsed Trump's "America First" strategy, arguing that it was not isolationist, and promised to ensure that national security and economic security were not compromised.

"Politico" noted that Perdue was once a "pro-China" advocate who promoted improving trade relations and reducing trade deficits with China, but in recent months, his stance has shifted dramatically, adopting an extremely hawkish attitude toward China.

The Hill also mentioned that Perdue's recent statements starkly contrast with his behavior during his tenure as a congressman. During Trump's first presidential term, he expressed understanding of China's handling of Hong Kong affairs and urged the Trump administration to adopt more targeted tariff measures.

Politico cited analysts as saying that amid the intense confrontation caused by the Sino-US tariff dispute, it may be difficult for Perdue to establish good relations with China. Zhou Bo, researcher at the Center for International Strategy and Security Studies at Tsinghua University, believes: "Given that the two major powers seem to be in fierce conflict at present, Perdue's work will be extremely difficult."

Max Baucus, former US ambassador to China during the Obama era, said: "The more Perdue shows respect for China and encourages China to respect the US, the more likely he is to achieve breakthroughs." However, he added that Perdue must demonstrate that "we Americans are strong. We will not be pushed around, nor will we allow China to bully us."

Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center based in Washington, told AP that he believed Perdue's confirmation at this moment was timely, as reliable communication channels are crucial for stabilizing bilateral relations under the backdrop of the tariff war.

However, some analysts told Reuters that given that in the current US administration, high-level diplomatic affairs with Beijing will be dominated by Trump and key figures such as the Treasury Secretary and Commerce Secretary, it remains uncertain whether Perdue can play a significant role in easing Sino-US relations.

At this very moment, the Trump administration continues to hype up the issue of tariffs on China. On April 29th, at the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, spokesperson Guo Jiakun once again expressed that China has repeatedly stated that there are no winners in a tariff war or trade war. This tariff war was initiated by the US side. If the US side wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop threats and pressure and engage in dialogue with China on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498914095941304847/

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