And then Yellen delivers the punchline: “China’s economic growth need not be incompatible with U.S. economic leadership.”
Yellen insists: “As in all of our foreign relations, national security is of paramount importance in our relationship with China.”
It is worth lingering over the implication here. Conflict is not inevitable because America is doing well. That in turn means that China can grow without threatening American economic leadership. But what if that were not the case? Yellen does not spell out the implication. Yet in that eventuality, where Yellen leaves little room for doubt, all bets would be off. Even now, even when the Biden administration professes to be confident about America’s economic prospects, Yellen insists: “As in all of our foreign relations, national security is of paramount importance in our relationship with China.”
以上是作者解读。我认为解读正确。耶伦说”need not be incompatible" 没有说“should not be incompatible...", 只是口气缓和一点。 她的意思是中国发展必须在美国经济领导地位的框架下，估计是指美元地位等等， 而不是“太平洋可以容下中美”的意思。
她还说“national security is of paramount importance”， 而不是自由贸易，WTO规则，互利等。这也是一个重大政策宣示，就是美国的安全利益最重要，制裁中国就有了基础，
