David Perdue Is Going to China—But Does He Know Where He’s Going?
David Perdue’s appointment as U.S. Ambassador to China has stirred up reactions across the political spectrum. For some, it’s another Trump-era loyalist elevated to a critical foreign post. For others, it’s a strategic move—placing a seasoned businessman with real-world experience in global markets at the heart of America’s most complex bilateral relationship.
There’s a case to be made for both views. But here’s the crux of the matter: while Perdue’s business acumen and supply chain fluency are assets, we should be very clear—spending time in Hong Kong and Singapore is not the same as understanding Beijing and Shanghai.
Knowing the System vs. Knowing the Market
Perdue has built a career navigating global supply chains. He’s seen firsthand how China became the backbone of low-cost manufacturing. (Although one could argue that title now belongs to Vietnam and Malaysia). He understands the vulnerabilities that come from over-dependence, and he’s likely better positioned than most former ambassadors to appreciate how corporate decisions intersect with national security.
That’s valuable. In a time when U.S.-China tensions revolve around trade, AI, semiconductors, and maritime logistics—not just diplomacy—sending someone who can think in terms of leverage and flow rather than just protocol has merit.
But here’s the risk: a businessman’s view of China can be dangerously narrow if it’s not paired with political depth.
The Illusion of Familiarity
Hong Kong and Singapore are not Beijing and Shanghai. The former are open economies that thrive on rule of law and global finance. The latter are power centers in a deeply centralized, authoritarian state with entirely different institutional logic. Understanding China’s role in the supply chain is not the same as understanding the Chinese Communist Party’s role in governance, surveillance, and strategic planning.
The worry is not that Perdue doesn’t know China at all—it’s that he may think he knows it better than he does. That is the real danger of his appointment.
What’s Needed Now
The next U.S. ambassador to China must do more than just deliver messages or cut trade deals. He must interpret signals, understand the cultural and political subtext, and navigate a government that plays a much longer, subtler game than most American boardrooms are used to.
If Perdue approaches the role with humility and seeks to learn as much as he negotiates, he could be effective. If he assumes his time in regional business hubs gives him mastery over mainland China, then the U.S. is entering this next phase of strategic competition with one eye closed.
Final Thought
We need people who understand the global economy. But we also need people who understand the political system they’re engaging with—on its own terms. David Perdue may bring supply chain logic to the embassy in Beijing. The question is whether he leaves enough room for China’s political logic, too.