Biden’s Treasury Secretary: We’ll Act on China, Regardless of Economic Impact

Biden Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: National Security is Non-Negotiable

In a recent interview, Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary under President Biden, emphasized the administration’s commitment to protecting national security, even if it means sacrificing our own economic interests.

Yellen made these remarks during her visit to Beijing, where she spoke with Margaret Brennan on CBS News’s “Face The Nation.”

When asked about potential retaliation from China if the administration imposes further restrictions on high-end technology sales, Yellen responded, “Well, an objective of my trip was to explain that national security is something that we can’t compromise about and we will protect, and we will do so even if it harms our own narrow economic interests. But that when we take such actions, which do have an effect on the Chinese economy, that we will make sure that they are transparent, narrowly targeted, and well explained.”

Yellen expressed concern about China’s recent decision to restrict exports of two minerals critical to the U.S. economy and military. She highlighted the difference between the narrowly targeted actions taken by the U.S. and the broader impact of China’s measures.

During her trip, Yellen aimed to prevent unintended escalations that could harm the economic relationship between the two countries. She emphasized the importance of establishing person-to-person relationships and ongoing channels of communication to address concerns and avoid misunderstandings.

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