Tensions flared in February after the United States shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon, which Beijing insisted was a weather monitoring device. China is investigating a US due diligence firm for “illegal” activities, after the company accused authorities of detaining five local employees and shutting down its Beijing office. The New York-based Mintz Group is “suspected of illegal operations”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Mintz Group has offices in 18 locations, including Washington. Is the trade wars a sterling towards having a multipolar world?

