US-China relations: Beijing’s provocation partly to blame for rising tensions, ex-US treasury chief says

There have been a number of actions by China that have ‘contributed to imperilling the relationship’, Larry Summers tells China Development Forum

But both sides should ‘think very hard about what we can do to reduce the sense of truculence’ that is damaging ties, he says

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Former US treasury secretary Larry Summers spoke candidly at the China Development Forum about what he thinks is wrong with the US-China relationship. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:30pm, 14 Nov 2020Updated: 9:58am, 24 Nov 2020

Beijing’s provocative actions are partly to blame for the slump in US-China relations, but both nations should “think hard” about how to reduce tensions, a former US treasury secretary said on Friday.

Speaking via a video link at the China Development Forum, Larry Summers, who worked in the treasury under Bill Clinton and was director of the National Economic Council under Barack Obama, did not pull his punches.

“I think it would be a grave mistake for my Chinese friends … to neglect the reality that there have been a number of actions on your side that really have been provocative, that have contributed to imperilling the [China-US] relationship,” he said.

The main venue for the three-day event, which began on Wednesday, was the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, but officials and business leaders joined the videoconference from around the world.

We both need to think very hard about what we can do to reduce the sense of truculence that surrounds this relationship

Larry Summers

“We both need to think very hard about what we can do to reduce the sense of truculence that surrounds this relationship,” Summers said.

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