China hawk Mike Pompeo tipped to stiffen Trump’s tough diplomatic line on Beijing
Appointment of presidential loyalist as US secretary of state unlikely lead to any easing in tensions between the two countries, analysts say
The US president’s nominee for secretary of state has stoked fears among Chinese observers for the future of Beijing’s already fraught relations with Washington, renewing his criticism in his confirmation hearing over China’s expanding influence and provocations in contested waters.
Mike Pompeo’s Senate confirmation on Thursday came amid threats from both countries to slap multibillion-dollar tariffs on imports, raising the risk of an all-out trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
The hearing in Washington also came hours after China staged its biggest show of naval might in the South China Sea, and Beijing announced its navy would hold live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait next week, its first since 2015.
In his prepared remarks, Pompeo lashed out at China on issues ranging from intellectual property theft to exploiting “weak US trade policy and leeched wealth and secrets” from the United States, adding that “China continues its provocation in the South and East China seas, in cyberspace, and even in outer space”.
“Even while America has re-established a position of strength in our diplomatic relationship, China continues its concerted and coordinated effort to compete with the United States in diplomatic, military, and economic terms,” Pompeo said.