Like since the 1970s. Hopefully, the Honorable Gentleman from Missouri has been aware of this too, but has just now mentioned it because someone on his staff came up with this little bon mot.

It causes me concern that China is so heavily invested in the US, but it doesn't worry me that much for two reasons. First, the Chinese are a practical people. They have little interest in blowing up their own investments. And second, if they ever try to use that muscle to assert colonialist authority over us, we can follow the example of former colonies and nationalize our industries, what's left of them.

As for the Japanese cars, a lot of them are manufactured in the US now. Just like a lot of things bearing the names of American companies are now manufactured in Asia. The cars are OK with me. But Barbie, our little plastic American fashion icon, is more likely to be Indonesian or Chinese. I want to see her tiny passport. Does she have an itty bitty green card in her miniature attache case?