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The United States Senate has officially confirmed former Georgia Senator David Perdue as the next US Ambassador to China.
Some background on Perdue before you dive in: David Perdue is a former US Senator from Georgia and a longtime business executive with decades of leadership experience at major American companies. Prior to his political career, Perdue was CEO of Reebok and Dollar General, two companies that heavily utilized Chinese manufacturing. During his time in Congress, he built a reputation for taking a tough stance on China. He ultimately lost his Senate seat in 2020 to Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff.
What’s happening now: In a 67-29 vote, the Senate confirmed Perdue to the key diplomatic post amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing. A Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump, Perdue won bipartisan backing, though some senators raised concerns about his aggressive posture toward China.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Perdue criticized China, warning that “Marxist nationalism is reshaping China, and their global ambitions threaten the current world order.” He pointed to issues such as China’s rapid military expansion, widespread human rights abuses, and attempts to spread authoritarian influence worldwide. Specific examples included the militarization of the South China Sea, the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy, and Beijing’s ambitions through the Belt and Road Initiative.
While addressing senators, Perdue pledged to advocate for American interests and stand firm against China’s growing influence. “Our approach to China should be nuanced, nonpartisan, and strategic,” he said, adding that strengthening US alliances and rebuilding domestic supply chains would be priorities. Perdue also highlighted the threat posed by China’s cyber capabilities and vulnerabilities in critical undersea infrastructure, warning of national security risks that demand urgent action.
