China and America are “competitors but not adversaries,” US Sen Lamar Alexander told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, despite a spiralling trade war and other tensions that have pushed relations to their lowest point in years.
The upbeat message at their meeting in Beijing came amid concerns that the US-China trade dispute will drag on, hurting company profits and the overall US economy. Tensions have also arisen over China’s claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea, allegations of Chinese theft of commercial secrets and accusations of meddling in American politics.
Coming a week ahead of the US midterm elections, the visit by Alexander at the head of a seven-member delegation of Republican senators and congress members seemed all the more extraordinary. All are strong supporters of US President Donald Trump, who has slapped tariffs on USD 250 billion on Chinese products and threatened much more.
