- China is unlikely to top US presidential candidates’ talking points as concerns over domestic politics, the economy and the Supreme Court take precedence
- Expect both sides to hedge their bets and defer any significant agreements as stable relations and market access are in their short-term interest
This Labour Day weekend marks summer’s unofficial end for Americans and the shift into high gear for the 2024 US presidential race. With partisan loyalty high, a sharply divided electorate means a fierce and costly duel for a sliver of swing voters in battleground states – a likely replay of 2020 without the pandemic-crippled economy.
Being “tough on China” will again figure in campaign rhetoric. Clashes over Taiwan, trade, relations with Russia and the US military presence in Asia will inevitably play out, drawing candidates’ rebukes. House of Representatives committee hearings on China will fuel reporters’ questions. Promises to fend off China’s threats to US competitiveness will easily draw applause in stump speeches, since more than 80 per cent of Americans hold unfavourable views of China.
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