Donald Trump's reliance on Chinese restraint is risky

Xi Jinping may grow tired of role as 'adult in the room' in dealings with US president

China's response to Donald Trump's escalating trade war has been relatively restrained so far. But Tuesday's latest $200bn (152bn) increase in US tariffs, with the threat of more to come, may provoke tougher, asymmetrical retaliation as Xi Jinping, China's president, comes under pressure to stand up to perceived American bullying.

Mildly criticising Trump's actions as "incorrect", China has until now confined itself to reciprocal tariff rises - on Tuesday hitting the US back with $60bn of new tariffs. But indications that Beijing will boycott scheduled talks on the dispute, due in Washington next week, suggest a more robust, possibly wide-ranging response may be under consideration.

Related: Trump hits China with $200bn of new tariffs as trade war escalates