Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan criticized for 'sinophobic' campaign ad referencing 'Communist China'

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio

Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

• Rep. Tim Ryan released a campaign ad directed at Ohio workers, saying "it's us versus China."
• AAPI Victory Fund said the video "stirs up a racist pedagogy" against East Asian Americans.
• Ryan told NBC News that he would not apologize for the ad.

Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat who is running for Senate, released a campaign ad seemingly blaming China for issues related to wages and jobs in the US.

The ad, which features Ryan speaking to different groups of workers in his state, references China as an enemy to workers and claims that it is "us versus China."

"China is out-manufacturing us left and right and it's time we fight back. We've got to go all in and it starts by investing in Ohio workers," a tweet from Ryan read.

The ad was met with swift criticism from Asian American Pacific Islander advocates.

Critics, including AAPI organizations and Rep. Grace Meng, said the campaign ad contributes to anti-Asian sentiment. The ad comes during a time when anti-Asian hate crimes and attacks are on the rise in major US cities, with many of them linked to anti-China sentiment and COVID-19.

The AAPI Victory Fund released a statement condemning the ad, saying it was sinophobic and pitted Asian Americans against other Americans.

"Rep. Tim Ryan's ad for his Ohio Senate campaign stirs up a racist pedagogy vis-à-vis China and makes Americans of East Asian descent vulnerable to attack," Shekar Narasimhan, AAPI Victory Fund chairman and founder, said in the statement. "That may not be what Rep. Ryan intended, but as he seeks higher office, his words have added meaning." 

In a statement to NBC News, Ryan said he fought for workers and that China is the US's "greatest economic adversary."

"Ohio workers are the best in the world, and I will never apologize for doing everything in my power to take on China and fight for all Ohioans," Ryan said.

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