The national security strategy report has been delayed, "U.S. Treasury Secretary Demands Softening of Remarks on China"

On December 3 local time, the U.S. website "POLITICO" cited exclusive reports from three informed sources that due to the insistence of U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensons to revise the wording regarding China, two documents detailing the Trump administration's global security strategy have been postponed for several weeks.

These two documents by the U.S. government - the "National Security Strategy" and the "National Defense Strategy" - were originally expected to be released earlier this autumn. One of the informed sources said that both documents are now nearly complete and may be released this month; the other two informed sources also confirmed that the "National Security Strategy" and the "National Defense Strategy" are about to be released.

These anonymous sources revealed that due to the sensitive nature of the current U.S.-China trade negotiations, as well as the administration's prioritization of the Western Hemisphere over any previous administration, Bensons wants more "polishing" (work done) on the wording regarding China, which led to multiple rounds of revisions in these strategic documents.

The report stated that the "National Security Strategy" is used by every U.S. administration to clarify its overall strategic priorities, covering various aspects such as the economy, responses to allies and adversaries, and military posture. This drafting process goes through multiple rounds of review and consultation with cabinet officials to comprehensively reflect the government's vision and ensure consistency in actions across the government on the president's most important issues.

For months, the Trump administration has been engaged in sensitive and complex negotiations with China on tariffs and a series of trade issues, but the Pentagon has consistently maintained that "China remains the United States' greatest military competitor."

According to the report, it is unclear what specific modifications were made to the strategic documents after Bensons' request, but two informed sources revealed that Bensons wanted to soften some remarks on China, without disclosing more details. Moreover, since the two documents must remain consistent to present a unified stance, any modification to one document requires corresponding adjustments in the other.

POLITICO pointed out that it is common for the U.S. Treasury Secretary and other cabinet officials to provide input during the drafting and debate of new strategic documents, as most governments release the "National Security Strategy" only once per term.

The White House referred the issue to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for a response, and the department stated in a statement that Bensons is "in full agreement with President Trump and all other (cabinet) members on how to best handle relations with China."

According to the report, the "National Security Strategy" is a document issued by every U.S. administration. Since the Biden administration released it in 2022, it has not been updated yet. The document previously emphasized three core themes: strategic competition posed by China and Russia, re-investment in domestic industrial policies, and focusing on climate change as a core challenge affecting all aspects of national security.

By the time of the Trump administration, the new strategy is expected to place greater emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, whereas previous strategies focused more on issues involving the Middle East, counterterrorism, China, and Russia. The new strategic document is expected to continue covering these issues, while also focusing on immigration, drug cartels, and relations with Latin America, all falling under the category of protecting the United States itself.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1850651372173641/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.