US Treasury Secretary Bessent Labels China an “Unreliable Partner” Over Wartime Oil Hoarding
WASHINGTON — US Treasury Secretary Bessent on April 14, 2026, characterized China as an “unreliable partner” in the international community, citing the nation’s strategic behavior regarding energy procurement and trade restrictions during wartime.
According to Bessent, China has engaged in the hoarding of oil and the limitation of exports for specific commodities. The Treasury Secretary drew a direct parallel between these actions and China’s conduct during the global pandemic, during which the country was noted for stockpiling critical medical supplies. This escalation in rhetoric underscores the growing fragility of global supply chain trust and the increasing securitization of essential resources between the two superpowers.
The current tension follows a period of sustained friction over energy diplomacy. In July 2025, reports indicated that the US Treasury intended to build China’s purchase of oil from Russia and Iran a primary subject of discussion during bilateral talks. In response to those earlier tensions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun had urged the United States to focus on dialogue and the fulfillment of common understandings reached between the two nations’ heads of state to ensure a stable and sustainable relationship.
The latest accusations from the Treasury Department suggest that resource management and procurement transparency may become central hurdles in future diplomatic and economic negotiations.
US Treasury Secretary Labels China an “Unreliable Partner” Over Wartime Oil Hoarding View all articles on Google News
