If Tim Geithner did not realise it already, the US Treasury secretary found out on his first official visit to Beijing yesterday that he is dealing with a more self-confident, and sceptical, China.

After a speech at Peking University, Mr Geithner faced tough questions about US failures that contributed to the global financial crisis, as well as demands that China should now be treated as an equal in global economic issues.

One student suggested that, given the US's need for economic support from the Chinese government, he should in return advise Washington to stop selling weapons to Taiwan. Another asked if China's investments in US government securities were secure.