US Senate confirms ‘old friend of Xi Jinping’ Terry Branstad as ambassador to China
As governor of farming state Iowa, Branstad has had decades of dealings with Xi, but pledges to be firm with Beijing over North Korea, trade and human rights
The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Monday to confirm Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, one of the US politicians most closely acquainted with China, as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Beijing.
One of Branstad’s first challenges will be pushing China to take a harder line against North Korea, which said on Monday that it successfully tested what it called an intermediate-range ballistic missile, although US officials and experts questioned the extent of the country’s progress.
Branstad assured lawmakers during his confirmation hearing he would take a firm line with the Chinese government on issues from North Korea to trade disputes and human rights, despite years working closely with Chinese officials.
Branstad said his long ties would help him push Beijing on difficult topics, including North Korea and thorny trade issues.
President Xi Jinping has called Branstad, 70, an “old friend” after decades of dealings on agricultural trade during his long career in politics in Iowa, an important farming state.