America affirms it wants to compete with China

The US and China have conflicting worldviews. Photo: AP

While China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, used a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington over the weekend to highlight the importance of cooperation, Mr. Pottinger made clear America's intentions.

“In the United States, competition is not a curse word,” Pottinger said at an event marking China’s National Day. “We in the Trump administration have updated our China policy to put the concept of competition at the forefront. It is right at the forefront of the president’s national security strategy.”

The notions of freedom and competition lie at the “core” of American democracy and market economy, the official said, adding that failing to acknowledge competition between the two sides would lead to misunderstanding and miscalculation.

For his part, Ambassador Cui Tiankai said that both China and the US are facing a “historic choice” regarding the future of their relationship. “China has made its choice,” the diplomat said. “We are committed to the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the US.”

Matt Pottinger, senior director for Asia at the US National Security Council. Photo: Getty

On trade, Cui Tiankai reaffirmed China's stance that the country will "open up further to the outside world," and stressed that Beijing "will firmly defend" the international order to promote free trade.

Earlier, in a speech at the US Council on Foreign Relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that the China-US relationship is "easy to destroy, but it will be very difficult to mend a broken mirror".

Mr. Wang Yi said that the bilateral relationship is at a “decisive stage”, and stressed that Washington needs to decide whether “Beijing is a partner or a rival”.