New US ambassador to China claimed Beijing wants to ‘destroy democracy’

The Senate confirmed former Georgia Sen. David Perdue as ambassador to China on Tuesday with a 67-29 vote, placing the longtime China critic at the forefront of the U.S.’ most consequential diplomatic relationship amid a deadlocked tariff war.

Confirmation details: Perdue’s nomination received bipartisan support, with 15 Democrats and one independent joining 51 Republicans in favor of confirmation. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) called it “certainly one of the most important appointments” to come before the chamber, describing the role as a challenge that will require “a strong leader” to execute President Donald Trump’s vision.

“Anti-China” label: Before entering politics, Perdue, 75, built a career as an international business executive and lived in Hong Kong during this time. Despite this global experience, Perdue has been labeled “anti-China,” with Beijing-based think tank Grandview Institution describing him as “a proponent and practitioner” of the “China threat” theory.

In a September 2024 article in the Washington Examiner, he called Xi Jinping a “modern-day emperor” and accused Beijing of seeking to “destroy capitalism and democracy.”

During his confirmation hearing in April, Perdue described the U.S.’ relationship with China as the “most consequential diplomatic challenge of the 21st century” and advocated for a “nuanced, nonpartisan and strategic” approach while identifying fentanyl precursor chemicals as among his top priorities.