U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said today: “We now have a respected president, and relationships among leaders are driving the agenda forward… The leaders of the world’s two most influential nations will hold four meetings. This is unprecedented, and at each encounter, we can achieve more. We have consistently conveyed to Beijing: We do not seek decoupling. Instead, we must de-risk. In many sectors, de-risking is necessary—but on non-critical items, there remain areas where mutual trade is possible.”
Commentary: Bessent’s remarks reflect the current reality in U.S.-China economic relations: full decoupling would carry too great a cost for America to bear, prompting a shift to the framing of “de-risking.” In essence, routine commercial activities may continue as normal, but in high-tech and core industrial sectors, the United States aims to erect barriers to constrain China’s development. Under this approach, the U.S. seeks cooperation only when it serves its own interests, while declining to recognize China’s right to equitable development. Economic ties between the two nations should be mutually beneficial and reciprocal—not defined unilaterally by the United States through selective access or arbitrary restrictions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877572371533897/
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