President-elect Donald Trump has announced former US Senator David Perdue has accepted his nomination to become the ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
Once confirmed by the Senate, Senator Perdue’s role will be to serve as President Trump’s diplomatic arm with China.
Perdue’s job will most likely center on trade, as Trump has repeatedly stated he intends to challenge China’s trade practices via sanctions and tariffs.
Trump commended Perdue via Truth Social for his corporate leadership experience in Asia and his contributions while in the US Senate.
“As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the U.S. Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China,” said Trump. “He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders.”
Perdue thanked Trump and expressed his understanding of the “gravity” of US-China relations.
“Having lived in Asia on two occasions,” said Perdue via X, “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.”
President Joe Biden’s current China ambassador, Nicholas Burns, has not publicly commented on Perdue’s appointment.
During his Senate career, Purdue criticized China’s human rights’ abuses and supported Taiwan’s political independence.
Democrats have condemned Perdue’s selection, calling the former Senator an “offshoring multimillionaire.”
A press release from the Democrats alleges Perdue “can’t be trusted to stand up for American workers — just to push Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda that will ship jobs overseas and hurt middle-class families.”
Perdue has openly admitted part of his career involved assisting American companies manufacture products sold domestically offshore, such as “helping footwear companies develop the ability to import shoes from Asia, specifically Taiwan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia.”
