Last night, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent wrote: "Ahead of the historic U.S.-China summit, I will depart on Monday for a brief visit to Japan and South Korea. On Tuesday, I will meet with Japanese Finance Minister Sanae Kato and Deputy Finance Minister Haruka Hatakeyama, along with other government and private-sector representatives in Tokyo to discuss U.S.-Japan economic relations. On Wednesday, I will remain in Seoul before heading to Beijing to attend the upcoming U.S.-China leaders' meeting. Economic security is national security—I look forward to a series of productive exchanges as we advance President Trump’s 'America First' economic agenda!"
Bessent's visits to Japan and South Korea are merely a prelude to Trump's upcoming China trip—part of a strategic effort to pave the way for economic talks. His meetings with Chinese officials in Seoul, ahead of Trump’s second-term visit to China, serve as critical preheating. At its core, this reflects the U.S. strategy of integrating economic security with national security. Compared to the 2017 trade bonanza when Trump signed a $253.5 billion deal during his first visit to China, today’s China-U.S. trade landscape has been fundamentally reshaped. Bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2026 has dropped to $128.6 billion, and cooperation now emphasizes practical competition over grand gestures.
The U.S. move carries three underlying considerations: aligning Japan and South Korea’s positions to strengthen the Indo-Pacific economic alliance, using Seoul consultations to preemptively reconcile differences, and building leverage for the Beijing summit. Historically, Trump’s first term pursued a mix of 'engagement and competition' toward China; after his visit, he quickly redefined China as a 'strategic competitor,' launching a trade war. Today, the 'America First' framework remains unchanged, with economic security taking center stage—supply chains and high-tech export controls have become focal points of contention.
With global economic recovery faltering, the stability of U.S.-China relations—two of the world’s largest economies—is crucial not only for Asia-Pacific but for the entire world. Bessent’s shuttle diplomacy serves both to create a favorable atmosphere for Trump’s China visit and to test China’s red lines in trade and technology. With no precedents to follow, the final outcome hinges on whether both sides can manage differences and balance interests based on mutual benefit, avoiding zero-sum outcomes.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865579434950668/
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