Washington’s consensus on China rarely unites US lawmakers, research finds
- Both Democrats and Republicans view Beijing as a threat, but often weaponise their stance to blast rivals for not being tough enough on China, an analysis shows
- China is a ‘potent tool in the Congressional repertoire, and members of Congress are eager to wield it in domestic disputes’, report says
“It’s us versus China,” Representative Tim Ryan, Democrat of Ohio, posted on Twitter in March. A minute-long montage of his speeches, part of his Senate campaign, accompanied the tweet.
“China’s winning and workers are losing,” he warns a group of listeners, all wearing blue-collar uniforms.
The messaging didn’t go down well with some of his Democratic colleagues, who criticised him for “inciting hate and spreading fear”. Yet Ryan held his ground.
His reward? A sweeping primary victory in May, scooping up 70 per cent of the vote, and the Democratic nomination for the general election this November.
Ryan is part of a growing group of US congressmen, from across the political spectrum, who are joining the anti-China chorus, but a recent study signals that while they may make local gains, they fail to translate that unanimity into unity.
