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Han Li

A US congressional advisory body on China said the country is projecting an image of confidence even as concerns about its economy and future growth remain beneath the surface, following a week-long visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou in July.
Members of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) discussed their observations during a wide-ranging press briefing on Wednesday, offering new details about meetings with Chinese officials that had not previously been disclosed.
“I think there’s an outward confidence,” USCC chairman Randy Shriver said. “There’s a lot of anxiety about the state of the economy and economic performance and potential for growth.”
Shriver, a former assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said it was important to observe conditions in China first-hand, noting that the commission’s last official visit was in 2019.
“It’s one thing to hear and read about ‘ghost cities,’” he said. “It’s another thing to take the high-speed rail and see these enormous developments with apartment building on top of apartment building, and not a single light is on.”
Commissioner Chris Slevin said China’s confidence was especially apparent in conversations about artificial intelligence.


“I would say the confidence was palpable,” Slevin said. “There was a lot of messaging I think from [Chinese President Xi Jinping] and taking a step on the global stage when it comes to leadership on AI and defining what success looks like.”
However, commission members said one of the biggest disappointments of the trip was being denied access to Hangzhou’s so-called “Six Little Dragons” – a group of rising technology companies that includes AI start-up DeepSeek and robotics company DeepRobotics.
Vice-chairman Michael Kuiken said the decision raised questions about how willing China was to showcase the true state of its AI industry.
“It was surprising to me how unwilling they were to have the companies engage with us directly,” Kuiken said. “I thought that part was the most telling piece of the trip: not what actually happened, but what did not happen.”
The USCC, an independent panel established by the US Congress in 2000, advises lawmakers on the national security implications of the US-China economic and trade relationship.
In its 2025 annual report, the commission called for a tougher, whole-of-government approach to China. This included the creation of a new economic-statecraft entity to coordinate sanctions and export controls, alongside broader measures targeting technology, supply chains, manufacturing, defence and Taiwan.
China has long viewed the commission as taking a hardline stance because of its often critical assessments of Beijing’s policies.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said Beijing welcomed communication with members of Congress, but urged the commission to approach China from a fair perspective.
“We hope this visit by USCC will help the US side take an objective decision and fair-minded perspective to China and China-US relations,” the spokesperson said, “playing a positive role in building a China-US constructive relationship of strategic stability.”




Who did they meet?
The trip was hosted by the state-affiliated Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, Shriver said.
Commission members said they met officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission. They also took part in a round-table discussion at Zhejiang University.
The commission confirmed that it met with Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations and a former foreign ministry spokesperson.
Shriver also said commission members met with provincial foreign affairs officials in Zhejiang.
Commissioners said Chinese officials generally avoided providing specific details on several issues, including the proposed US-China “board of trade” and an expected September visit by Xi to the United States.
“We’re at a juncture where it’s aspirational and conceptual rather than a lot of specificity,” Shriver said. “Perhaps further announcements would be made at the reciprocal visit of Xi Jinping.”
Taiwan remains a sensitive issue
Commissioners said Taiwan was repeatedly raised during discussions and remained a sensitive issue in US-China relations, particularly in military exchanges.
“In most cases, it was characterised as the Taiwan issue, and the importance of carefully managing the Taiwan issue,” Shriver said.
He said discussions also touched on US arms sales to Taiwan and their impact on future military-to-military exchanges between the Pentagon and the People’s Liberation Army. According to Shriver, Chinese officials noted that previous attempts to arrange military visits had been disrupted by US arms sales to Taiwan.


Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
In May, US President Donald Trump paused a US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
Kuiken said Taiwan was often mentioned by Chinese officials in a more critical tone towards Washington.
“[Taiwan] came up almost in a passing way,” he said. “It was almost like they had to admonish the United States on it, and then move on from the topic.”
Commission members said they hoped to make the trip an annual event. Their observations from the visit will be reflected in the commission’s annual report, which is expected to be released later this year.


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Congressional advisers cite AI optimism but question Beijing’s openness after being denied access to Hangzhou tech firms


Congressional advisers cite AI optimism but question Beijing’s openness after being denied access to Hangzhou tech firms.


China projects ‘outward confidence’ amid economic anxiety, US congressional panel says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Congressional advisers cite AI optimism but question Beijing’s openness after being denied access to Hangzhou tech firms

Congressional advisers cite AI optimism but question Beijing’s openness after being denied access to Hangzhou tech firms