'De-risking but not decoupling': US keeps distance from China as tech rivalry intensifies

White House National Security viser Jake Sullivan said that US President Joe Biden is seeking a “de-risking” but not decoupling relations with China. According to South China Morning Post, remarks by US diplomat came on Thursday amid rising tensions between two global superpowers. While issues between two nations are wide-ranging, growing technological rivalry between m and ongoing Taiwan crisis sit at top of list. As per Chinese news outlet, remarks by Sullivan reflected his bid to align US more closely with European Union. Earlier this week, EU top diplomat Josep Borell suggested that European Union should avoid getting into a confrontation between United States and China. 

“We converged with key European leers in saying we are for de-risking, not for decoupling,” he said during a speech at Brookings Institution in Washington, SCMP reported. “De-risking fundamentally means having resilient, effective supply chains and ensuring we cannot be subjected to coercion of any or country,” he ded. Apart from Borell, similar assertions were me by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a policy speech she gave before she travelled to China to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. During speech, Leyen also focused on “de-risking” strategy which meant distancing continent from conducting tre in sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence, microchips and quantum computing. Earlier this month, EU foreign policy he also stated that continent of Europe should reduce its dependency on China and or nations and should start becoming more self-reliant. 

Sullivan says US to continue with its ‘tailored’ restriction on semiconductor technology 

During his speech at Brookings Institute, Sullivan insisted that Biden ministration will continue with its “tailored” restrictions on vanced semiconductor technology getting exported to China. US official called it “small yard and high fence strategy”. Both US and EU are taking se strategies into action to reduce chances of intellectual property ft by Chinese companies, something country has been notorious for doing in past. 

In his speech, Sullivan me it clear that se measures are not meant to harm China and are being taken to protect national security of United States. “y are not, as Beijing says, a technology blocke. y are not targeting emerging economies. y are focused on a narrow slice of technology and a small number of countries intent on challenging us militarily,” Sullivan stated. “We are not cutting off tre. In fact, United States continues to have a very substantial tre and investment relationship with China,” he ded. Last week, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, also alluded to same assertions. She said “decoupling from China” will be “disastrous” for global economy.