U.S. Leaders Urged to Visit China More Often

Lack of high-level travel to China in recent years has led to policy misjudgments, experts say.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:22pm

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The article argues that U.S. policymakers need to restore regular travel to China, which has dropped sharply in recent years, just as the economic and geopolitical competition between the two countries has intensified. Seeing China up close would help prevent miscalculations and lead to more informed U.S. policy, the authors say.

Why it matters

The lack of firsthand experience with China among U.S. officials can lead to serious misjudgments, such as the escalating tariffs imposed by former President Trump. Visiting China would give policymakers a better understanding of the country's manufacturing capabilities, technological prowess, and industrial ecosystems, which is crucial for revitalizing American industry.

The details

Congressional travel to China used to be routine, with 177 U.S. lawmakers taking part in 59 congressional delegations from 2010 to 2019. However, such exchanges have essentially stopped since 2020. Likewise, American presidents since Ronald Reagan had gone to China at least once during their terms, but that ended with President Biden, who never visited as president. This situation does not serve American interests, as seeing China as it is will help the U.S. judge where to compete, where to cooperate, and how to strengthen its own foundations.

  • In 2022, Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to boost U.S. competitiveness.
  • In September 2023, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, visited Shanghai and was surprised by the city's 'advanced' development.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who postponed a visit to China due to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Joe Biden

The current U.S. president who has never visited China as president.

Ro Khanna

A Democratic representative from California who visited Shanghai in September 2023 and was impressed by the city's development.

Charles Schumer

A Democratic senator from New York who traveled to China as part of a rare delegation in 2023 and pressed President Xi Jinping on controlling fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Mike Pompeo

The former U.S. secretary of state who saw educational and cultural exchange programs with China as 'propaganda tools' and shut them down in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“We need far more trips to China.”

— Ro Khanna, Democratic Representative from California

“Seeing China up close — its manufacturing juggernaut, technological and innovative capacities, state-of-the-art infrastructure and state-fostered industrial ecosystems — would help prevent such miscalculations and hopefully lead to U.S. policy that is less complacent, less theatrical and more focused on what's actually needed to revitalize American industry.”

— Jing Qian, Vice President of the Asia Society and Founder of the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis

What’s next

President Trump should direct Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore the China travel programs that were previously authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, which provides a legal framework for federal employees to participate in exchanges funded by foreign governments.

The takeaway

Restoring regular travel to China will be crucial for U.S. policymakers to gain a better understanding of the country's capabilities and developments, which is essential for formulating effective policies to compete with and cooperate with China.