US President Joe Biden was speaking in a CBS News interview aired on Sunday. He said there was no reason for Washington to be drawn into direct conflict with Beijing, but that both sides would engage in what he called "extreme competition" on the global economic stage.
Mr Biden said he had not spoken to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, since becoming president last month, and that he had not changed his stance towards Beijing.
"He's very bright, he's very tough," Mr Biden said of Mr Xi, adding: "He doesn't have a democratic - small 'd' - bone in his body."