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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is dealing with scrutiny from Republicans over what they are saying are pro-China remarks, together with an interview through which the Democratic vice presidential nominee mentioned he doesn’t agree with the concept there must be an adversarial relationship with the communist authorities.
Walz labored briefly in China as a trainer, touring to Guangdong in 1989 for a educate overseas program to show English and American historical past. He later grew to become a member of Congress and governor of Minnesota.
The Wall Street Journal, citing native media experiences, reported that one journey to China doubled as his honeymoon in 1994, and he deliberate his marriage ceremony date to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
In an interview from 2016, Walz mentioned he believed there was potential for a powerful relationship between China and the U.S., though he additionally mentioned China wanted to play “by the rules” on human rights and the atmosphere.
FORMER MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS UNLOAD ON HARRIS’ ‘PARTISAN’ VP PICK TIM WALZ: ‘VERY THIN-SKINNED’
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, seem on stage collectively throughout a marketing campaign occasion at Girard College Aug. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“I’ve lived in China and, as I’ve said, I’ve been there about 30 times. … I don’t fall into the category that China necessarily needs to be an adversarial relationship. I totally disagree, and I think we need to stand firm on what they’re doing in the South China Sea, but there’s many areas of cooperation we can work on,” he mentioned within the interview with Agri-Pulse Communications.
In the interview, he famous he was on the congressional govt fee on China, a bipartisan fee that focuses on human rights.
Walz taught the identical 12 months because the Tiananmen Square crackdown by the communist regime towards pro-democracy protesters. He later began an organization to arrange journeys to China and, as he famous in his remarks, has visited the nation dozens of instances, conducting summer season schooling journeys to China. The New York Post reported that he mentioned after his preliminary journey there, “No matter how long I live, I will never be treated that well again.”
It’s introduced criticism from some on the proper who consider Walz is comfortable on the risk coming from the Chinese Communist Party.
Former performing Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell mentioned “communist China is very happy with [Walz] as Kamala’s VP pick.”
“No one is more pro-China than Marxist Walz,” Grenell mentioned.
James Hutton, a former assistant secretary on the Department of Veterans Affairs, mentioned Walz “doesn’t see China as a problem.”
“This is a guy who will have to learn the truth of the vicious nature of the dictatorship in Beijing. Communist tyranny may not be a bad thing to Walz, but the rest of the world knows. Walz is dangerous.”
“Tim Walz owes the American people an explanation about his unusual, 35-year relationship with Communist China,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., mentioned.
The flag of China is flown behind a pair of surveillance cameras outdoors the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong, China, July 7, 2020. (Roy Liu/Bloomberg through Getty Images)
The Harris marketing campaign and a few Democrats have pushed again towards that criticism.
“Throughout his career, Gov. Walz has stood up to the CCP, fought for human rights and democracy and always put American jobs and manufacturing first. Republicans are twisting basic facts and desperately lying to distract from the Trump-Vance agenda: praising dictators and sending American jobs to China,” spokesperson James Singer mentioned in an announcement to Fox News Digital.
“Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will ensure we win the competition with China and will always stand up for our values and interests in the face of China’s threats.”
WHERE DOES TIM WALZ STAND ON ISRAEL?
Others, together with Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, famous that Walz criticized Beijing for cultural genocide in Tibet and Xinjiang in 2009, accompanied Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a go to to Tibet and had met with the Dalai Lama. He has additionally co-sponsored resolutions on key human rights points.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., informed the Post his choice is “an affirming signal that a Harris-Walz administration would continue to make human rights a key part of the United States’ relationship with China.”
Meanwhile, on Chinese social media platform Weibo, opinions had been cut up on what the Walz decide indicated.
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“I feel like he should be the one running for president,” one person mentioned.
“In 2014, he said in an interview with U.S. media that he ‘cares a lot about human rights and democracy in China.’ He was also a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. He has bad intentions,” one other mentioned.
Fox News’ Eryk Michael Smith contributed to this report.
