David Perdue, former senator and longtime Trump ally, passes key hurdle to Chinese ambassadorship

Former Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue’s nomination to become President Donald Trump’s ambassador to China passed a Senate vote for cloture – to end debate – Monday evening.

The vote starts the "2-hour clock" of limited debate that will ultimately end in a vote on Perdue’s nomination. That clock is typically 30 hours for Cabinet-level officials.

Perdue has long been an ally of Trump and narrowly lost his 2021 runoff election with Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., by just over 1%, or about 55,000 votes.

He also has experience working in global supply chains as a former chief executive of Tennessee-based Dollar General, and other companies.

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During his confirmation hearing, Perdue said, "Marxist nationalism" is reshaping China and that their global ambitions threaten the world order.

"Since 2000, China has doubled its nuclear arsenal and grown its military at a pace unseen since WWII. They have militarized the South China Sea and violated their agreement in Hong Kong. Their Social Credit Score system and extensive policing capability are designed to enforce domestic state control. Their Belt and Road Initiative and their Made in China 2025 statements demonstrate their global ambitions," Perdue said.

"They speak of a global ‘community of common destiny for all mankind.' Put simply, they want a world more in line with their authoritarian principles."

Perdue went on to argue that Trump’s "America First" strategy that greatly affects the U.S.’s relationship with China is not isolationist, but "just the reverse."

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"America will be a stronger ally and partner by rebuilding our strategic supply chains at home and with our friends."

He said Chinese leader Xi Jinping, like Trump, only respects strength and that, if confirmed, he will work on reciprocity and security agreements with Beijing.

"Our approach to China should be nuanced, nonpartisan, and strategic," Perdue said.

On Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province, Perdue said he will support the longstanding One China Policy while remaining committed to a "peaceful resolution" of tensions that is acceptable to both Beijing and Taipei.

"I will also ensure focus on our priority to eliminate fentanyl precursors and hold China accountable on human rights."

The Senate recently confirmed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

The upper chamber has also filed cloture motions – which will spur votes after they "ripen" for one legislative day – on three other potential diplomats: former Reagan staffer and New York real estate investor Tom Barrack for ambassador to Turkey, Landry’s Restaurants and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as ambassador to Italy and San Marino, and Arkansas investment banker billionaire Warren Stephens as ambassador to the United Kingdom.