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US worried about China’s growing influence in world: Commentator

Saturday, 17 November 2018 2:38 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 17 November 2018 3:48 PM ]

US Vice President Mike Pence delivers his keynote speech at the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on November 17, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

The United States and China trading barbs at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea indicates the growing tensions between the two countries, says a political commentator.

“I think it is very clear that this goes beyond simple just trade. The United States is worried about the Belt and Road Initiative spearheaded by China. They are worried about a lack of influence in the world as China is increasing its influence and this Belt and Road Initiative will no doubt create many new opportunities for China that the United States are not going to be a part of,” Jason Unruhe told Press TV in an interview on Saturday.

Belt and Road Initiative is a massive infrastructure and development project spanning Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Africa, also known as Silk Road Economic Belt.

“I think what we are definitely seeing is a competition between the two international powers – the United States and China- over the economic future of the world and particularly those countries primarily in Africa which have not yet fully entered the global economy and I think the problem is that the United States sees this competition by China as just too much … This is about undermining China and reinforcing the US’s hegemonic role in the world,” he added.

China and the United States have once again exchanged barbs over trade at the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea.

Beijing and Washington have been at odds over trade issues for months now.

The dispute began in April, after US President Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs on imports from China and a number of other countries, in line with his protectionist policies.

The dispute has seen both sides imposing tit-for-tat measures.

While Washington has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports, Beijing has slapped tariffs on $110 billion in imports from the US in retaliation, effectively halting its purchase of key US agricultural exports.

The Sino-US dispute has also raised concerns about the stability of the global economy.