Hillary Clinton on China
TL;DR
Hillary Clinton views the US-China relationship as a critical engagement requiring both firm confrontation on trade and human rights and deep cooperation.
Key Points
As Secretary of State, she stated in January 2011 that the U.S.-China relationship had become global and was at a critical juncture requiring cooperation.
She condemned unfair Chinese action on steel production in April 2016, pledging to aggressively pursue trade cases and impose consequences if elected President.
Some members of Congress criticized her remarks in February 2009 for demoting human rights as a lower priority in U.S.-Chinese relations to focus on economics and climate change.
Summary
Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State and a presidential candidate, has articulated a complex approach to the People's Republic of China that balances competition with necessary global cooperation. During her tenure as Secretary of State in early 2009, she signaled a strategic prioritization of cooperation on economic, climate, and security issues, which drew criticism from some members of Congress who felt human rights concerns were being devalued or postponed in U.S.-Sino relations. Clinton maintained that pressing on human rights could not interfere with these essential global challenges, stating that both nations were in the same boat and cooperation offered more mutual gain than conflict.
Later in her political career, particularly during her 2016 presidential campaign, her stance emphasized aggressive enforcement against unfair Chinese trade practices, such as steel dumping, and she pledged to take on trade abuses if elected. She expressed a willingness to confront Chinese leaders on various tough issues, including cyberattacks and trade, while also acknowledging the deep integration of the two economies. This shows an evolution toward a more assertive posture on trade fairness while maintaining the historical necessity of engagement across multiple policy fronts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillary Clinton advocates for a pragmatic but firm approach to China, seeing the relationship as essential for global stability and economics while simultaneously demanding accountability on trade practices and human rights. Her stance requires balancing cooperation on issues like climate change with confronting unfair practices.
Yes, her public emphasis appears to have shifted over time; as Secretary of State, she stressed the necessity of cooperating on global crises, but later as a presidential candidate, she adopted a more combative tone regarding trade and dumping practices. This suggests an evolution from prioritizing shared global governance to a more protective economic stance.
Hillary Clinton has strongly condemned China when its actions harm American interests, particularly concerning steel overcapacity and unfair trade. She promised as President to oppose granting China 'market economy' status to preserve tools for dealing with dumping.
Sources4
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Signals U.S. Retreat on China Human Rights Under New Obama Administration
Hillary Clinton Campaign Press Release - Hillary Clinton Condemns Unfair Chinese Action on Steel Production, Pledges to Take On Chinese Trade Abuses as President
Hillary Clinton lauds U.S.-China ties_Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York All Rights
Why Hillary Clinton Got It Right on China
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.