US-China relations: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hails ‘step forward’ but warns national security concerns remain
- One of the most dovish members of the US administration wraps up a visit to Beijing by saying decoupling would be ‘disastrous’ and ‘virtually impossible’
- Visit is latest in series of steps to improve strained ties, but significant differences between the two sides remain
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Washington would continue to take action to protect its national security despite her confidence that her visit to China had helped put relations on a “surer footing”.
Beijing and Washington did not announce any substantial agreement during Yellen’s trip to China, but the four-day visit offered the two sides a chance to stabilise relations.
“I believe that my bilateral meetings – which totalled about 10 hours over two days – served as a step forward in our efforts to put the US-China relationship on a surer footing,” she said.
Yellen said her talks with senior economic officials aimed to “establish a desire and willingness” for further engagement.
He trip came less than a month after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing in June marked the resumption of senior-level official contact in efforts to fix the strained ties.
