U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced his selection of former Senator David Perdue as ambassador to China, choosing a former politician with business expertise to navigate the strained relations marked by mistrust and trade tensions.
"He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China's leaders", Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, 2025, has said he will impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing does more to stop the trafficking of the highly addictive narcotic fentanyl.
He also threatened tariffs in excess of 60% on Chinese goods while on the campaign trail. Perdue, a Republican from Georgia who served in the Senate from 2015-2021, previously lived in Hong Kong during a 40-year career as a business executive.
Perdue's nomination marks a return to the longstanding practice of appointing former politicians to the U.S. embassy in Beijing, following President Joe Biden's selection of veteran diplomat Nicholas Burns in 2021. Trump has also nominated China hardliners for other senior positions, such as Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state, signaling that his approach to the U.S.'s primary strategic rival may extend beyond trade policies.
In his first term as president, Trump named former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as his ambassador to China. Branstad sought to leverage his ties with Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping before he became China's top leader, to help navigate trade tensions. But the two sides still plunged headlong into an unprecedented trade war.
The ambassador's role in the tense bilateral relations is yet to be determined. Some analysts suggest that Beijing may pursue direct engagement with President Trump and his top advisers to manage the likely resurgence of trade tensions.