First election in which the candidates talked about China

[darklordoftech]

I know that Clinton talked about China in 1992 and (Dubya) Bush talked about China in 2000.

[MIKESOWELL]

I believe that both Kennedy and Nixon mentioned China in their debate that focused on foreign policy in 1960.

[One Term Floridian]

Presidential candidates have been talking about China for a long time. The issue of Chinese immigration entered the 1880 election, which culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act. I am certain that China came up as a serious foreign policy talking point in subsequent elections of 1900 (Boxer Rebellion), 1940 and 1944 (Japanese occupation and World War II).

During the Cold War, discussions on China likely came up in every election. China was integral to the foreign policy debates during the Korean War (1952), Taiwan's forward positions in the Quemoy and Matsu Islands (1960), the Vietnam War (1964 and 1968), Nixon goes to China (1972) and Tienanmen Square (1992).

[The Mikado]

1952 would almost certainly be the answer.

EDIT: Holy s**t, I remembered that the 1900 election happened in the aftermath of McKinley joining the 9 Power Alliance to put down the Boxer Rebellion.

Sure enough:



W J Bryan as a Boxer.

[Senator Incitatus]

Jefferson had a pretty comprehensive Chinese foreign policy agenda, but I'm not sure if it ever came up in 1800 or 1804. It wasn't a central issue, obviously.

[darklordoftech]

I meant in the way that they talk about China today.