Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's foreign policy chops have come into focus after she sparred with Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy during Wednesday's Republican debate in Milwaukee.
Haley, who is also the former ambassador to the United Nations, clashed with political newcomer Ramaswamy on handling Chinese aggression, a focal part of her 2024 presidential campaign, and aiding Ukraine in its fight with Russia.
REPUBLICANS SUDDENLY FACE MESSY PRIMARIES AHEAD OF 2024 BID TO RETAKE SENATE
Ramaswamy claimed supporting Ukraine would drive Russia closer to China, but Haley countered that choosing to stop helping Ukraine was choosing a "murderer" in President Vladimir Putin over friends.
“He wants to hand Ukraine to Russia, he wants to let China eat Taiwan, he wants to go and stop funding Israel,” Haley said of Ramaswamy. “You don’t do that to friends. What you do instead is you have the backs of your friends.”
Haley later told Ramaswamy: "Under your leadership, you will make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows."
Her performance at the debate follows her focus on foreign policy along the campaign trail. Haley evoked the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her time on the debate stage, and the former governor and former ambassador has flouted her strong foreign policy and leadership credentials as one of the only candidates prepared to fight against China.
“This is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, 'If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,'" Haley said during the debate.
When it comes to dealing with China domestically, Haley plans to ban all propaganda centers and eliminate federal funding for universities that take Chinese money, forcing universities to choose between the United States and China. She is also seeking to prevent China from buying more U.S. land, force the country to sell what it already owns, ban all lobbying from Chinese companies, Beijing, and ban congress members from lobbying on China's behalf.
Haley additionally called for Congress to revoke normal trade relations with China if its role in the illegal flow of fentanyl into the U.S. does not stop. Chinese companies make nearly all the precursor chemicals that Mexican cartels turn into fentanyl.
"We’ve tried sanctions, but they’re not working," Haley said of the U.S. response so far in June. "We must ratchet up the pressure. As president, I will push Congress to revoke permanent normal trade relations until the flow of fentanyl ends. If China wants to start normal trade again, it has to stop killing Americans."
The former ambassador also outlined plans to combat Beijing militarily, which includes strengthening ties with U.S. allies that are closer geographically to China, such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. She also plans to aid Taiwan by giving the island nation whatever it needs to defend itself against Chinese aggression. Haley is also for helping Ukraine defeat Russia in their war because a Russian loss would be a blow to China's power.
Haley's resistance against China is not new to the 2024 election cycle. Her vocal stance against the communist regime in China dates back to the Trump administration, including calling for the world to wake up to China's growing power in a speech in 2019. She also called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics in 2020.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“Communist China is the greatest threat to American security and prosperity today," Haley's spokesman Ken Farnaso told the Washington Examiner. "Wednesday night’s debate showed that Nikki is the tough leader our country needs to stand up for America and stand up to our enemies.”
Despite her strong performance in the Republican debate, including when it comes to foreign policy, the former governor still has an uphill battle in securing the nomination, trailing former President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Vice President Mike Pence, and Ramaswamy in the polls.