Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, known for his sweeping and often outlandish remarks, accused India, along with China, of “taking advantage of the U.S.”
“If you look at the way China and India and almost everybody takes advantage of the United States -- China in particular, because they’re so good,” the real estate czar, who claims a special ability to strike great business deals, said during the fourth Republican debate.
“U.S. cannot do good deals”
Mr. Trump said the U.S. has lost the ability to negotiate good deals, and “every country in the world was ripping it.”
India was mentioned only once and there was no further discussion on Mr. Trump’s suggestion on India, while everyone latched on to the “China threat.”
Pat for Obama move on S. China Sea
“I give the [U.S.] President some credit for being able to move a naval force in there [South China Sea] to let the Chinese know that we’re not going to put up with it any more,” Ohio Governor John Kasich said.
Mr. Trump also reiterated his position that all one million illegal immigrants (estimates vary) in the U.S. now, should be deported, “not just beyond the border, but far south, that they don’t come back.” Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Mr. Kasich opposed Mr. Trump on immigration. “Come on, folks, we all know you can’t pick them up and ship them back across the border. It’s a silly argument. It’s not an adult argument,” Mr. Kasich said.
Unanimity on China as a threat
All eight candidates agreed on China being a threat to U.S. interests, but on Russian President Vladimir Putin and dealing with the Syrian situation, there were disagreements. Mr. Bush argued that the U.S. has given space for Russia to emerge as a player in the Middle-East, and Senator Marco Rubio called the Russian leader a “thug.” But Mr. Trump thought Mr. Putin was contributing in stabilising the region. “Do we want America to be the world’s policeman?” he asked. ““We are not going to be the world’s policemen, but we sure as heck better be the world’s leader,” Mr. Bush countered.
Raising the minimum wage
All candidates opposed raising the minimum wage in the U.S., which is now $eight an hour. There is an ongoing debate in the US on raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, but Republican candidates were unanimous that such a move would reduce American competitiveness. Most candidates argued that facilitating the resurgence of small businesses in the U.S., not hiking wages, was the solution to middle class distress in the country.
