What, Exactly, Does 'Tough On China' Mean?
Members of both parties increasingly view China as a threat to the US, or at least a geopolitical competitor. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Members of both parties increasingly view China as a threat to the US, or at least a geopolitical competitor.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty ImagesDemocrats and Republicans disagree on a lot of issues. But there's a growing consenus in both parites that China represents a threat to the U.S. And some worry that the rise in anti-China rhetoric could pave the way for xenophobia against Asian-Americans.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, D-Calif., is concerned about that. She herself has been accused of disloyalty by a fellow lawmaker, and she says she worries about a "new McCarthyism," in the Republican Party.
And Erika Lee, a professor of history and Asian-American studies at the University of Minnesota, says there's a long American history of national security concerns fueling xenophobia.
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This episode was produced by Connor Donevan. It was edited by William Troop. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.