Sen. Cotton Calls China an 'Evil Empire' Seeking Global Domination

The Arkansas senator says China is a communist, Marxist regime that oppresses its own people and seeks to expand its influence worldwide.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 11:24pm

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In an interview with Breitbart News, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) compared China's current regime to the Soviet Union's 'evil empire,' calling President Xi Jinping a 'Marxist' and accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of committing 'genocide' against ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs and Tibetans. Cotton argued that China puts 'the party above all' and wants to 'dominate the world' through initiatives like the Belt and Road program.

Why it matters

Cotton's comments reflect growing bipartisan concern in Washington about the threat posed by an increasingly assertive and authoritarian China under Xi's leadership. As the U.S. and China compete for global influence, the senator's characterization of China as an 'evil empire' seeking world domination could further inflame tensions between the two superpowers.

The details

In his new book 'Seven Things You Can't Say About China,' Cotton writes that 'China is an evil empire,' drawing a parallel to former President Ronald Reagan's famous description of the Soviet Union. The senator accused the CCP of persecuting ethnic minorities, cracking down on Hong Kong's freedoms, and using initiatives like the Belt and Road program to expand its global influence.

  • Sen. Cotton made these comments during a Breitbart News policy event on March 26, 2026.

The players

Sen. Tom Cotton

A Republican senator from Arkansas and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Xi Jinping

The president of China and general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, whom Cotton described as a 'Marxist.'

Ronald Reagan

The former U.S. president who famously referred to the Soviet Union as an 'evil empire' in 1983.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

The ruling political party of China, which Cotton accused of committing 'genocide' against ethnic minorities and seeking to 'dominate the world.'

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What they’re saying

“China is an 'evil empire' and Xi Jinping is a 'Marxist' - there's no doubt about that.”

— Sen. Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas

“They've been committing a slow-motion genocide in Tibet for 70 years. They've been committing genocide fast-forward against the Uyghur people, a religious ethnic minority in northwest China.”

— Sen. Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas

What’s next

Sen. Cotton's comments are likely to further inflame tensions between the U.S. and China, potentially leading to increased diplomatic and economic pressure on Beijing. The senator's characterization of China as an 'evil empire' could also embolden hawkish voices in Washington calling for a tougher stance against the Chinese government.

The takeaway

Sen. Cotton's scathing rebuke of China as an 'evil empire' seeking global domination reflects the hardening of attitudes toward Beijing in Washington, where there is growing bipartisan concern about the threat posed by the authoritarian, Marxist-led regime under Xi Jinping. The senator's comments underscore the increasingly adversarial relationship between the U.S. and China as the two superpowers compete for influence on the world stage.