Why China Fears a Clinton Presidency

By Ernie Bower

Ernie Bower is the Founder, President & CEO of BowerGroupAsia, a US based business advisory company focused on supporting the world's best companies working in Asia. Ernie led the effort to create first chair for Southeast Asian Studies at Center for Strategic and International Studies and helped found and lead the US-ASEAN Business Council. Ernie earned a bachelor's degree from Colgate University.

By William Heidlage

William Heidlage is a Research Director at BowerGroupAsia, where he analyzes the impact of politics in Northeast Asia on the commercial environment.

Over the last eight years, China perceived weakness and indetermination in Washington. Whether right or wrong, it used this time to aggressively promote China’s regional and global interests, going so far as to brazenly manufacture and then militarize islands in the disputed South China Sea.

Ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Beijing, well acquainted with Hillary Clinton, understands the potential to have a more determined and decisive American leader in the White House. From FLOTUS, to Senator, to Secretary of State, to Democratic nominee for president, Clinton has acquired an understanding of China’s playbook and will present a more determined partner and, on some issues, an outright adversary in Washington.

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