Boeing China appoints new president amid Sino-US tensions

Boeing named Alvin Liu head of its China unit on Wednesday, picking a Chinese-born representative recently hired from the auto industry as the aircraft maker grapples with a drought in U.S. imports to the crucial aviation market. Both Boeing and Airbus now have top executives in China who were born in the country. China accounts for about a quarter of global aircraft imports and its dealings with Boeing have become mired in geopolitical and trade tensions with Washington. It was the first country to ground Boeing's 737 MAX following fatal accidents, and although existing planes have returned to service, China has been slow to resume imports, while broader plane imports and orders have become engulfed in political tensions. Liu is a native of Liaoning Province in the northeast part of China, Boeing said. The company did not disclose his age or nationality but said he had been leading its government operations team in China.<br/>