Republicans are using China bashing as a political strategy. This is why Republicans keep trying to make head lines by attacking, blaming, and banning China. You can see a variation of this strategy from their party play book in 2020:
The Democrats are following them in this strategy because it's been very successful, politically. Remember: 90% of Americans now hate China. So if you don't play to the popular sentiment, you're going to be labeled a China lover and lose your political career.
This is how the world will march into a great war, regardless of what rational people think or want - the instinct of tribalism is fundamental to human nature and especially Western nature. Democracies are prone to having their politics dictated by mass sentiments.
They've light a fire they can no longer control. The American public wants a show down with China and they're going to get one.
