Chinese Media Expect Escalation of China-Bashing by Both Republicans and Democrats

May 17, 2020 (EIRNS)—Editorials in both China Daily and Global Times responded to President Donald Trump’s remarks earlier this week that the U.S. “could cut off the whole relationship” with China, by observing that it reflected a general escalation of China-bashing during the U.S. electoral period, which is coming from both Republicans and Democrats. Until recently, Global Times wrote, congressmen of both parties had been “notorious for making radical comments about China, while the President and his administration play the role of mediator. However, there seems to be an anti-China competition underway between the House of Representatives and the White House, and also between Republicans and Democrats.” The editorial expects things to get worse, but doubts that things will come to a complete break between the U.S. and China.

“However, China should be prepared for a partial or complete decoupling in vital sectors, including technology, the economy, humanities, and social sciences. U.S. public opinion, misguided by American politicians, could fuel such trends. It is foreseeable that Washington could take significant action to cut off China relations, which would undoubtedly impact both countries.”

A May 17 China Daily editorial also emphasized that Joe Biden has joined Trump in bashing China. “The ‘China card’ will be increasingly played by both the Republicans and the Democrats, as neither of them has shown the will, vision and courage to face the reality of the domestic situation.” They point to a 57-page “playbook” distributed by the National Republican Senate Campaign Committee in mid-April of this year, which laid out the whole China-bashing strategy to be followed during the elections. As EIR reported at the time, those guidelines were prepared by a long-time adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.