David Perdue Photo: VCG

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday on Truth Social that he has selected former senator David Perdue as the new US ambassador to China, CCTV reported.

Trump wrote that Perdue accepted the role and highlighted his "40-year international business career" as a Fortune 500 CEO and his service in the US Senate, noting Perdue's expertise will help "build relationship with China."

Perdue was a Republican senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. As senator, he served on the Foreign Relations Committee and Armed Services Committee. Before his Senate tenure, he held executive roles, including president and CEO of Reebok, CEO of Dollar General, and leader of the North Carolina textile company PillowTex, NBC News reported.

Perdue has significant business experience in Asia, including China. As the former CEO of Dollar General and a top executive at Sara Lee and Reebok, Perdue was responsible for significant corporate restructuring and global expansion, and has lived in both Singapore and Hong Kong, according to a report from the Politico on Friday. 

Politico noted that Perdue's support for moving US jobs to Asia to reduce costs may clash with Trump's "America First" policy.

Nicholas Burns, a career diplomat, is the current US Ambassador to China who has held the post since March 2022.

Trump will take office on January 20, 2025. Previously, Trump has selected his son-in-law Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, to serve as the next US ambassador to France. In November, Trump announced Republican Elise Stefanik as his pick for UN ambassador. He has nominated investment banker Warren Stephens to be his ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to the Politico.

Global Times