Yellen adds to US view on China

WASHINGTON—The United States seeks a "constructive and fair economic relationship" with China, even as Washington holds firm in defending the country's national security, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in prepared remarks Thursday.

Her speech, to be delivered at a school of Johns Hopkins University in Washington, comes as tensions remain elevated between the world's two biggest economies.

In Manila, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said it was much better for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to summon and talk to the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian about his apparent threats to the safety of 200,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

"But at this time, I can see that there is no 'lost in translation' because the Chinese ambassador did not speak in Chinese or Mandarin languages. He spoke in English and the threat to us was clear," said the opposition senator.

"We were all a little surprised, but I just put it down to the difference in language,” the President said about the recent statement by the Chinese envoy, who has been summoned to the Palace to explain himself.

Hontiveros noted that it would appear Huang “dictated on what will be our position and what we should do.”

"This would also seem that they (China) were interfering even in the self determination of Taiwan that even we Filipinos do not meddle," she added.

China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang last month accused Washington of stoking tensions between both powers, warning of "conflict and confrontation." But Yellen said the United States remains firm in its conviction to defend its values and national security.

"Within that context, we seek a constructive and fair economic relationship with China," she added in her remarks.

She also noted the need for both countries to be able to "frankly discuss difficult issues" and work together when possible.

Stressing that "healthy economic competition" is only sustainable with fairness, she said: "We will continue to partner with our allies to respond to China's unfair economic practices."