Daily News Brief

April 21, 2023

Top of the Agenda

In a speech yesterday on U.S.-China economic ties, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said (FT) that “a full separation of [the countries’] economies would be disastrous.” While the speech offered a shift in tone from months of heightened tension between the countries, Yellen said that Washington would still prioritize security concerns over economic policies. However, the United States wouldn’t aim to “stifle” China’s development, she said. She also announced plans to visit China, but did not give a timeline.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Taiwanese officials have asked Washington to tone down its warnings against relying on Taiwan’s world-leading chip sector; some U.S. officials have warned against overdependence on Taiwanese chips given the possibility that China could invade the island. 

Analysis

“Though [Yellen] emphasized that wherever US national security collided with economics, the former would always take priority, her address ought to be interpreted as an olive branch to Beijing,” the Financial Times’ Edward Luce writes.

“Yellen puts highest priority on national security in laying out guiding principles for the US-China relationship. [Chinese President] Xi Jinping did the same in the 20th [Chinese Communist Party] Congress last Oct. This dual focus on security does not provide an off-ramp for conflict escalation!” Yale University’s Stephen Roach tweets.

This Backgrounder unpacks the contentious U.S.-China trade relationship.

Pacific Rim

North Korea’s foreign minister made the comments (AP) after Group of Seven (G7) nations jointly called for the country’s full denuclearization during their recent meeting in Japan.

This episode of The President’s Inbox podcast discusses how Pyongyang’s nuclear program affects Northeast Asian security.

 South and Central Asia

Payments and deliveries for at least $12 billion in weapons and other military supplies have stalled as the countries search for a payment method that is acceptable to Russia and allays India’s concerns about violating U.S. sanctions, Bloomberg reported.

This In Brief discusses whether sanctions against Russia are making a difference in the war in Ukraine.

Pakistan: The country placed its first order (Reuters) for discounted Russian crude oil as part of a new bilateral agreement. Shipments could reach up to one hundred thousand barrels a day, Pakistan’s petroleum minister said.

Middle East and North Africa

The embassy in Turkmenistan, which borders Iran, opens amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Turkmenistan had long resisted hosting an Israeli embassy (Al-Monitor) due to pressure from Iran.

U.S./Iran: The U.S. Navy denied Tehran’s claim (Al-Monitor) that the Iranian navy forced an American missile submarine to surface in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that no U.S. subs have been in the area recently.

Sub-Saharan Africa

The United Nations said many of those fleeing the internecine clashes between Sudanese military forces have lacked food, water, and shelter (AFP). Fighting in Sudan, a majority Muslim country, continued today as festivities to mark the end of Ramadan approached.

Equatorial Guinea: Health authorities have confirmed sixteen cases (Reuters) of the hemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus in an ongoing outbreak. The disease can have a fatality rate of up to 88 percent.

Europe

During a visit to Kyiv, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will announce new military support (AP) for Ukraine, but he did not lay out a timeline for the country to join NATO.

France: Government price controls that reduce the price of electricity for consumers could last until the start of 2025 (Bloomberg), France’s finance minister said.

Americas

The plan, which is awaiting congressional approval, would require (FT) any company that wants to extract lithium to partner with the state. Chile is the world’s second-largest producer of the critical mineral, which is used in electric car batteries.

U.S./Brazil: U.S. President Joe Biden said he will seek congressional approval (NYT) for a $500 million pledge to a fund that fights deforestation in Brazil. The contribution would make the United States one of the largest donors to the fund. 

This In Brief looks at deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon.

United States

The case in question weighs whether the federal government has the authority (NYT) to ensure access to mifepristone, a medication that is currently used in more than half of the country’s abortions. 

Friday Editor’s Pick

The Wall Street Journal explains why press freedom was in dire straits even before Russia made headlines last month for detaining reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Council on Foreign Relations

58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065

1777 F Street, NW — Washington, DC 20006

Shop the CFR Store

Forward This Email

Manage Your Email Preferences