Leaders | America v China

Why the China-US contest is entering a new and more dangerous phase

Chinese officials rage at what they see as American bullying 

Image: Satoshi Kambayashi

You may have hoped that when China reopened and face-to-face contact resumed between politicians, diplomats and businesspeople, Sino-American tensions would ease in a flurry of dinners, summits and small talk. But the atmosphere in Beijing just now reveals that the world’s most important relationship has become more embittered and hostile than ever.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “It’s worse than you think”

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