US ruining 'big picture' of bilateral relations

One can argue that the ongoing tit-for-tat between Beijing and Washington is not a trade war despite US tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and Chinese tariffs on $60 billion of US products taking effect on Monday.

One can even say the White House sanctioning a Chinese military agency and its director for purchasing Russian fighter jets and missiles, which invited "stern representations" and suspension of inter-military talks by Beijing, was "collateral" damage.

And one can continue assuming that relations between China and the United States will not worsen beyond a certain point because their economies are too closely interwoven. And following the same logic, the two sides will make sure the trade conflicts, if they still do not signify a trade war, do not spill over into other areas and ruin the "big picture" of bilateral relationship.