Will the US change its China policy if the Democrats win the midterms or is that wishful thinking from Beijing?
- Chinese government warned to prepare for ‘worst case scenario’ as trade war continues
- Beijing warned there is a ‘bipartisan consensus’ in Washington in favour of tough stance
The US is unlikely to see a shift in its China policy even if the Democrats win next month’s midterm elections, diplomatic observers have said, warning Beijing against “wishful thinking” on the issue.
Zhao Quansheng, director of the Centre for Asian Studies at American University in Washington, told an event in Beijing that there was a “bipartisan consensus” in Washington in favour of a hard line against China.
“The likelihood of a change in China policy is very limited,” he told Thursday’s forum on US-China relations.
The US will hold the midterm elections on November 6. Democrats and Republicans will contest all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate.
Polls suggest the Republicans face a tough fight to hold both houses, especially the House of Representatives.
Although Congress has limited influence over foreign policy, which is primarily a matter for the White House, it can still influence policy by passing bills that the president must decide whether to sign or veto.