Former Georgia Senator David Perdue has been nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to China in Trump’s second administration. Perdue brings both business and political experience, having advocated for a tough stance on China, supported closer ties with Taiwan, and pushed for tariffs against China. Analysts believe this nomination indicates that the Trump administration will continue to adopt trade protectionism and geopolitical competition in its handling of U.S.-China relations.
Trump announced that he would nominate former Georgia Senator David Perdue as the new U.S. ambassador to China, the Wall Street Journal reported on December 6.
This comes at a time of escalating tensions in U.S.-China relations, with both sides engaging in intense competition over trade, Taiwan and geopolitical issues. As both a business executive and a political hardliner, Perdue is considered a key figure in Trump’s China policy.
Perdue was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014. During his term, he served as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, and was known for supporting a hardline approach towards China. Perdue advocated for strengthening U.S. military deployments in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasized relations with Taiwan, and has repeatedly called for tougher economic and diplomatic policies towards China.
In 2018, Perdue visited Taipei as a senator and met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, reaffirming U.S. commitments to Taiwan. He urged the U.S. government to continue providing military support to Taiwan and to strengthen economic ties between the two sides. During Trump’s administration, Perdue frequently supported his tariff policies against China and publicly criticized the Chinese government’s economic practices and human rights record. He also believes that the U.S. should take a firmer stance against China, especially on issues related to the South China Sea, intellectual property protection and international trade rules.
Before entering politics, Perdue had extensive experience in the business sector, which has also sparked controversy. During his Senate campaign, his Democratic opponent accused Perdue of outsourcing American jobs overseas. Perdue defended himself, stating that his business decisions were based on the survival and growth of those companies rather than the intentional harming of U.S. interests.
During his career, Perdue lived in Asia twice, spending time in Singapore and Hong Kong, where he lived for two years and worked in business development during the run-up to Hong Kong’s return to China. However, in recent years, he has sought to downplay this experience to avoid it being weaponized against him politically. In a campaign video from 2020, he even deleted photos taken at the Great Wall of China and references to his work experience in Hong Kong.
Trump stated that Perdue’s nomination as ambassador to China aims to strengthen U.S. strategic dominance in U.S.-China relations. In a social media post, Trump pointed out that Perdue will be a key figure in executing his foreign policy, asserting that he “will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump also plans to initiate a new round of trade protectionism by imposing new tariffs on Chinese goods.
If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Perdue will take on a highly challenging role. Currently, U.S.-China relations are increasingly strained due to issues such as trade conflicts, technological competition and the Taiwan issue. Trump has committed to imposing a 10% tariff on all products exported from China to the U.S. and plans to further escalate the situation. He has also accused China of failing to effectively combat the production and export of fentanyl.
On the social media platform X, Perdue expressed his honor at being entrusted with the role. He wrote, “Having lived in Asia on two occasions, I understand the gravity of this responsibility and look forward to implementing President Trump’s strategy to make the world safe again and to represent the United States’ interests in China.”
