Donald Trump blamed China for killing the United States and called Joe Biden a harbinger of World War III during the first debate before this year’s November presidential election.
“China is going to own us if you let them keep doing what they’re doing to us as a country,” Trump told Biden during a televised debate on Thursday night.
“They are killing us as a country, Joe, and you can’t let that happen.You’re destroying our country,”
He said after talking about opioid crisis in response to a question by an interviewer.
The candidate described military policies practiced by his opponent as “mad” while expressing the opinion that China’s leader along with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea ruler Kim Jong Un do not “respect” or “fear” their US counterpart. He also added, “They have nothing going with this gentleman and he’s going to drive us into World War III.”
As the two countries enter what could be another tight race for the presidency; they are both making hostile statements against China.
After passing some tariffs which appeal to people who want to protect jobs in America from being sent outside, most recently linking trade relations between China and USA got better under Biden after he visited Chinese President Xi Jinping last year. However, Beijing’s military activities in South China Sea, as well as its increasing inexpensive exports from world number two economy have led to new strains among them.
The reaction on Chinese social media was quite muted, with posts on Weibo-the Chinese equivalent of Twitter- mocking both candidates and their performances during the debate. “It is like one old guy trying to convince people he isn’t insane while other old man tries tell them he isn’t senile.” A user posted on Weibo.
As a result, shares of a local company whose name sounds exactly like “Trump wins big” spiked up by their maximum limit during that debate.
Trump attack
Trump talked about Biden as a Manchurian Candidate “who was paid by China” with no proof. The Biden campaign listed this among 50 lies it claimed that Trump made during the debate.
Trump also added that America’s trade deficit with China is now at its highest level ever. In response, Biden stated that US has “its smallest trade deficit with China since 2010” and accused his rival of making “no headway” whatsoever with Beijing.
The US’ trade deficit in goods with China fell to $279 billion last year from a record high of $418 billion in 2018.
He previously threatened to raise tariffs on all imported goods by 10% and then he talked about charging as much as 60% duty tax on products which were exported by Chinese companies. Also, Biden has blamed Trump for implementing higher levies on Chinese items when he served as president, before announcing new duties up to 100% on electric vehicles.
The President dismissed arguments that his plans would add to inflation and inflict pain upon Americans. Economists say such import taxes would increase costs for American families and hurt nations across Asia and elsewhere which have trade surpluses characterized by the exports of their products into the USA.
Countries like China that have been exploiting us for years will find it hard going. “It’s going to just force them to pay us a lot of money, reduce our deficit tremendously, and give us a lot of power for other things.” Trump said.
