David Perdue Now Trump’s Hawkish Envoy to China
In a move that highlights the evolving dynamics of US-China relations, President Donald Trump has appointed David Perdue, a former Republican Senator from Georgia and longtime business executive, as the new United States Ambassador to China. Perdue’s shift from a staunch global trade advocate to a vocal China hawk underscores the changing tide in Washington’s approach to Beijing. His arrival in Beijing this week comes at a critical time, following a surprise trade truce between the two economic giants brokered in Geneva last weekend.
Perdue’s appointment replaces Nicholas Burns, a career diplomat and Biden-era pick, and marks a clear pivot in strategy under Trump’s renewed presidency. At a recent White House event, Perdue made no attempt to hide his allegiance. “I want the world to know that I know this man personally,” he told Trump. “I am glad to be your man in China.” It is this personal connection to Trump that analysts believe will be central to his diplomatic efforts in Beijing.
Perdue's task is daunting: to mend the frayed lines of communication between Washington and Beijing while advancing a tough stance on trade, national security, and fentanyl trafficking. Notably, Trump has maintained several aggressive tariffs on China, with about 20% tied directly to China's role in supplying ingredients for the deadly opioid fentanyl. Perdue is expected to play a key role in negotiating China’s cooperation on this front.
According to Republican Senator Steve Daines, a close ally of Perdue, “President Trump has picked the right man, at the right time, for this most important responsibility.” Daines and Perdue have frequently collaborated on China policy, and both have visited Beijing multiple times during Trump’s first term. During those visits, Perdue met with senior Chinese leaders like then-Premier Li Keqiang and top economic adviser Liu He, seeking progress on the US-China Phase One trade deal.
Perdue’s professional background offers a nuanced perspective to his current role. Raised in Warner Robins, Georgia, by two schoolteacher parents, he began his career in international business, helping American firms like Sara Lee and Reebok outsource manufacturing to Asia. While this made him a target of criticism during his Senate campaigns, Perdue defended his record, stating in a 2005 deposition that he was “proud” of his outsourcing decisions and blamed poor US policy for the decline of domestic manufacturing.
In the Senate, Perdue evolved. Though initially skeptical of tariffs, he became a proponent of Trump’s economic pressure tactics, acknowledging their effectiveness in drawing Beijing to the negotiating table. He later served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Sea Power, where he pushed for stronger US naval capabilities in the South China Sea and supported Taiwan, visiting the island in 2018 to meet then-President Tsai Ing-wen.
Perdue’s transformation from free-trade evangelist to China skeptic mirrors a broader bipartisan shift in Washington. Once viewed as a partner in global economic growth, China is now widely seen in the US as a strategic rival threatening to undermine democracy, capitalism, and Western norms. Perdue has not shied away from this narrative. In a 2024 essay, he labeled Chinese President Xi Jinping a “modern-day emperor” and called for a decoupling of American supply chains from China.
Yet, during his Senate confirmation hearing, Perdue struck a more diplomatic tone, calling for a “nuanced, nonpartisan and strategic” approach to Beijing. This balance will be crucial if he hopes to succeed in one of the most delicate ambassadorial roles on the world stage.
Chinese officials, for their part, are cautiously optimistic. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, believes Perdue’s business credentials and practical approach could make him a more effective negotiator than his predecessor, who focused heavily on ideological issues such as human rights. “Given his business background, he can work to resolve specific issues in areas such as trade, economic and people-to-people exchanges,” Wu said.
Beijing also hopes Perdue can serve as a reliable communication bridge to the Trump administration—someone with the President’s ear and a clear mandate to ease tensions while defending American interests. This is especially critical as both nations explore a possible roadmap to reduce tariffs based on tangible commitments, particularly around curbing fentanyl precursor exports.
Still, expectations must be tempered. As Yun Sun, a China expert at the Stimson Center, noted, “The challenge between the US and China is structural, so no one expects a single person to change the world. But having an effective communicator is always going to help.”
David Perdue enters the Beijing diplomatic theatre with both advantages and burdens. His ties to Trump ensure he speaks with authority, but his hawkish evolution and America-first ideology may prove challenging in gaining Chinese trust. As he settles into his new role, Perdue will be tested on multiple fronts—from trade negotiations and security disputes to the complex issue of fentanyl trafficking.
The global community will be watching closely, not just to see how Perdue performs, but to assess whether Washington and Beijing can stabilize one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world today.