Third GOP debate: Vivek Ramaswamy warns US 'can't get tough with China' as he emphasizes economic independence
MIAMI, FLORIDA: Vivek Ramaswamy took a unique stand on Chinese relations with America at today's Presidential Debate amongst the GOP candidates.
While he stood with the party-wide disapproval of China, the CEO had a different approach to it, suggesting that America needed "economic independence" from the nation before making any major decisions.
Vivek Ramaswamy asks for America to reach economic independence
Ramaswamy noted that the United States was not ready to end ties with China completely because of its immense dependence on the Asian nation.
"End the toxic divest to invest program," the candidate said, "For people who don't know about that, we are decommissioning ships in the South China Sea. The foundation of war is economics; rebuild our defense industrial base at home."
He then brought up a "dirty little secret" of America setting for a weak defense system if relations were to worsen with China.
"Our actual defense industrial base depends on China for the supply chain, for the F35 jets, for the ships that we're building. Think about this. Why are we stockpiling that if it isn't to be strong against our enemy China?"
Ramaswamy continued, "We depend on them for that, just like we depend on them for pharmaceuticals. Just like we depend on them for semiconductors."
Then, likening himself to Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, he claimed that the US needed to sign a new Declaration of Independence.
"So, here's why we can't get tough with China: it's because we depend on them for our modern way of life. And we have to declare economic independence from our enemy. That's the Declaration of Independence that Thomas Jefferson at the age of 33 would have signed today if he were alive. That's the Declaration of Independence that I will sign as President."
Vivek Ramaswamy makes false claims about China buying American land
Ramaswamy addressed the President of China Xi Jinping as he came to conclude his piece.
"My message to Xi Jinping is this: you're done buying land in this country," the entrepreneur said, "You will not donate to universities in this country. US businesses won't expand into the Chinese market until you play by the same set of rules."
NBC News later fact-checked this claim from Ramaswamy of China taking over farmland in the country. This claim was determined to be false, revealing that there were close to no purchases, especially not to concerning levels, by China in the past 18 months. Chris Christie had also made a similar statement in his own piece during the debate.
Ramaswamy also demanded financial accountability from China for "unleashing hell" on the world through Covid-19. The CEO also suggested a 20% increase in naval capacity to meet the AUKUS standards.