Rivalry between the US and China was laid bare at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting over the weekend, as Xi Jinping, China’s president, and Mike Pence, US vice-president, sparred over trade and security.
The tension between Mr Pence and Mr Xi at the Apec summit — which failed to issue a joint communiqué for the first time in its 29-year history — damped hopes that a detente between Washington and Beijing could be in store at the G20 world leaders summit in Argentina later this month.
At the upcoming gathering in Buenos Aires, starting on November 30, the Chinese president is set to hold much-anticipated talks with Donald Trump, his US counterpart.