New Jersey governor and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie declared that he would fly Air Force One over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and counter Chinese hacking attempts with “cyberwarfare like they have never seen it before.” Another Republican contender, Carly Fiorina, proclaimed China “a rising adversary,” and on the Democratic side Hillary Clinton blasted the country on human-rights issues, calling some of its actions “inexcusable.” “I have the freedom to talk about American politics, so I want to use it.”Ĭhinese officials have largely avoided commenting on the rhetoric, even if they do keep track. Trump accused the communist country of manipulating its currency and stealing American jobs. Many of the candidates have already turned China into an attack theme. But much of China still hasn’t heard of the Republicans’ Iowa front-runner Ted Cruz, the self-described socialist Bernie Sanders, or even the inimitable real-estate magnate Donald Trump.
Some of his translations show up on video-sharing platforms, and others appear on Chinese news sites. He boasts nearly 34,000 followers on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. It’s difficult to measure Yin’s audience. Some just want to laugh at America’s unusual cast of presidential candidates others seek insight into an election that could reshape the world’s most crucial bilateral relationship. The size of Yin’s group varies-up to about 20 people-as do the motivations of his colleagues and audience.