Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina called former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley “China’s favorite governor” during a campaign event on Thursday for former President Donald Trump.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida criticized Haley during his presidential campaign over investments from companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in South Carolina when she was governor, saying she was “number one” in terms of receiving CCP investments at the time.
Mace took aim at Haley, referencing the Chinese spy balloon shot down on Feb. 4, 2023, by an Air Force F-22 Raptor after it flew near sensitive sites, including Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Read: Georgia DA Fani Willis Admits To Relationship With Nathan Wade After Crying Fake News
“Nikki Haley is China’s favorite governor,” Mace said. “And in fact, if she had her way, South Carolina would be manufacturing spy balloons right here in our state.”
As governor of South Carolina, Haley praised Chinese companies for investing in South Carolina, including a $300 million investment by a fiberglass manufacturer, according to Fox News. Haley also made extensive efforts in 2014 and 2015 to entice Volvo to build a plant in her state, according to The State, a South Carolina newspaper.
The New York Times noted that Volvo is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a Chinese holding company, which purchased the Swedish automaker from Ford in 2010.
Read: Texas Sues Cities Over Cannabis Decriminalization Laws
Haley took aim at DeSantis over his feud with Disney by inviting the entertainment company to move to her home state of South Carolina after DeSantis signed parental rights legislation in March 2022 over the company’s opposition.
Haley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.