Shi Yinhong, an expert on international politics at Renmin University of China, said both Romney and Obama would keep playing tough on China during the coming debate. "We can expect more focus on China in the next two debates. Romney will keep hammering Obama for going easy on China over 'unfair trade practices'. And Obama, I think, will defend his policy as 'necessary and effective' to face up to China's rise."

Former US ambassador to China Stapleton Roy told a panel discussion before the first presidential debate that both candidates are making "two fundamental mistakes" when dealing with China in the campaign.

"First, the issue is not currency manipulation," he said from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank. "China's current account has been declining sharply. Its accumulation of foreign exchange reserves has slowed markedly, and its currency has appreciated over 30 percent since 2005, and it's continuing to appreciate."

What really concerns the US business community, he said, was intellectual property protection, market access and investment conditions.

"The second mistake is when you're trying to manage a difficult relationship, you don't make it more difficult," he said. "We are trying to have a constructive, strong relationship with China, and the candidates are talking about China in ways that undermine public support for the concept of a strong, cooperative relationship with China."

Elizabeth Economy, director of Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the same panel discussion that both candidates have targeted China as a scapegoat for US economic ills instead of engaging with the Asian country in a "serious or substantive" manner.

"What should they be talking about?" she said. "I think (they should be talking about) the issues that we're going to discuss today - namely, how can the US enhance its economic position vis-a-vis China and the bilateral relationship? Are there opportunities for the US and China to cooperate more on global issues? And does the US have it right when it comes to the pivot or rebalancing, as I guess it's now called, more broadly within Asia?"

Tao Wenzhao, a specialist on US studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the two presidential nominees argued on their stance on China because the US trade deficit with China was a "reality" that cannot be neglected.

Shi at Renmin University said regardless of who wins the Nov 6 election, Washington will keep "squeezing" the development space of China. "The winner, either Romney or Obama, may not be as tough as he has appeared during the campaign. But the substance of the US strategy will not change," he said.

Qu said the US presidential candidates competing with each other on who could appear tougher was "a negative proof" of China's growing influence.

"If China's rapid growth is insignificant, it is just not worth discussing. But too many extreme remarks will not only hurt China but also damage the interests of the US."

Contact the writers at wangchenyan@chinadaily.com.cn and tanyingzi@chinadaily.com.cn