JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential (running mate) candidate in the United States, stated on the 15th (local time) that former President Donald Trump could end the Russia-Ukraine war to strengthen pressure against China if he is re-elected.
In an interview with Fox News on the same day, when asked about former President Trump's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, Vance said, "He will help both sides negotiate to quickly end the war so that we can focus on China, which is the greatest threat to the United States."
He added, "Our country (the United States) currently seems not very concerned about the threat from China."
Former President Trump has repeatedly pledged in his November election campaign to raise tariffs on China comprehensively. Trump has proposed imposing a uniform 60% tariff on Chinese products and has indicated in several interviews that it could be even higher. Currently, the average tariff the U.S. imposes on Chinese products is known to be around 20%.
Vance, a hardline conservative, is regarded as a shadow of former President Trump in terms of China strategy. In response to criticism that Trump's plan to impose high tariffs on Chinese products could reignite inflation, he argued that more American-made goods would be produced domestically.
Former President Trump, in the year following his inauguration in 2017, launched the U.S.-China trade war by imposing tariffs worth $300 billion on Chinese products. Amid an assassination attempt on Trump that sharply increased his chances of election, there are concerns within China that relations between the two countries could worsen if Trump wins again compared to President Biden.
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