Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emphasised the challenges in adopting a tough stance against China, citing the nation’s critical role in supporting the US’s modern lifestyle.
During the third presidential debate held in Miami, Florida, the 38-year-old entrepreneur stressed the necessity for the US to assert its economic independence from Beijing.
Ramaswamy, alongside other participants such as Indian-American presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, highlighted the interdependence between the US and China in various sectors.
Notably, he pointed out the US’s reliance on China for crucial components in the defense industry, including supplies for the F-35 jets and other military equipment, as well as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Expressing the need for political autonomy from influences that deepen the US’s reliance on China, Ramaswamy issued a stern message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging limitations on land acquisition and philanthropic activities in the US, along with stricter adherence to fair trade practices for US businesses seeking expansion in the Chinese market.
Additionally, he advocated for a significant increase in the US’s naval capacity by at least 20 percent in the coming years.
