China coming ‘closer’ to US as ‘global power’, European ex-leader says

China is approaching the United States in terms of overall world power including economic mettle, a former European Commission leader and Portuguese prime minister said this week.The United States remains the “most important global power” but China is getting closer, said Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, the European Commission president from 2004 to 2014, pointing to US technology and finance among other aspects of its prominence.“China comes every time closer, from my point of view,” Durao Barroso said on Monday in a keynote speech to the Asian Financial Forum, an annual Hong Kong event that was expected to draw 3,600 people.“China is the country that is scoring more points recently,” said Durao Barroso. “That’s very important to watch, not only the growth of the Chinese economy but also the diplomatic victories China has been making because of the current developments.”Both China and much of Europe recoiled last year against US President Donald Trump’s import tariffs throughout the world, followed this month by a threat to seize the Danish territory of Greenland.Durao Barroso – without calling out the US by name – labelled today’s international situation as more “volatile”, “unpredictable” and “dangerous”, with increased “big power competition”.