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Lindsey Graham’s death shifts focus to China hawk role in US Senate
Trump has suggested South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoint Darline Graham Nordone to the vacant seat, raising questions over whether the China-focused posture changes.
SCMP Economy reports the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham removes a leading China hardliner at a time when Republicans are debating how aggressively the United States should confront Beijing and increase overseas military projection.
The outlet says attention is now turning to who South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint to fill Graham’s vacant Senate seat, including whether the successor would inherit Graham’s prominent role as a China hawk and as a close adviser to President Donald Trump on foreign policy.
SCMP Economy notes that Graham had increasingly made China one of his defining foreign policy concerns, repeatedly warning that Beijing posed one of the greatest long term strategic challenges for the United States and arguing Washington should adopt a more confrontational posture.
The report also highlights that Trump has suggested McMaster appoint Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, and cites a Cato Institute fellow describing Graham as a particularly influential “uber hawk.”