In Michigan Senate race, Trump’s softer China tone gives candidates room to look elsewhere

In Michigan Senate race, Trump’s softer China tone gives candidates room to look elsewhereChina goes unmentioned in 37 ads reviewed by SCMP, but both candidates oppose Chinese carmakers as Ford pursues Chinese battery technologyPublished: 4:49am, 30 Oct 2026Updated: 4:51am, 30 Oct 2026Two years ago, Mike Rogers stood before the Republican National Convention and warned that it was “impossible to build an EV without getting into bed with the Communist Party of China”.The former US House Intelligence Committee chairman made opposition to Chinese investment a prominent theme of his 2024 Senate bid in Michigan, which he narrowly lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.Now, as Rogers runs again, US President Donald Trump’s softer approach towards Beijing has given candidates more room to focus elsewhere, some analysts argue, even as Chinese competition continues to shape the choices facing Michigan’s car industry.0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:00AI-generated voice