Dear Focus Reader,

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clashed over views on U.S.-China relations during their first presidential debate this week, highlighting issues like trade and foreign policy. During the nearly two hour long discourse, Harris accused Trump of being overly lenient with Chinese President Xi Jinping and criticized his handling of trade wars and the escalating U.S. trade deficit during his term. She also pointed out that Trump's tariffs, which he hailed as a strength, had damaged U.S. industries while benefiting China's modernization, particularly in its military sector. Trump, in response, reiterated his claim that China had been exploiting the U.S. for years, touting his tough stance on tariffs as a key accomplishment.

The debate also highlighted differences over China's role in the COVID-19 pandemic, though Trump largely sidestepped the issue, focusing instead on his broader claim that his leadership would have prevented major global crises, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing Gaza conflict.

While the debate touched on China, major aspects of U.S. policy in Asia, including tensions in the South China Sea and the U.S. commitment to Taiwan, were notably absent. This lack of substantive discussion on Asia raised concerns among analysts, as U.S.-China relations remain a focal point in global geopolitics.

Simultaneously, this week in Washington, Congress's "China Week" saw the Republican-led House of Representatives pass 25 bills aimed at countering China's growing influence. These bills, which range from curbing Chinese investment in U.S. agriculture to limiting Chinese-made electric vehicles from tax incentives, reflect a largely bipartisan effort to address economic and security threats that legislators argue are posed by China. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that these measures would strengthen U.S. positions in strategic sectors, including technology and defense.

China responded swiftly, with officials condemning the legislation as politically motivated and warning that it would harm bilateral relations. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, described the bills as promoting Cold War-era thinking, accusing U.S. lawmakers of using China as a political target in an election year.Learn more on China-US relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, including articles on security, Jake Sullivan's Beijing trip, and the U.S. presidential elections.