FOLLOWING two recent trips to China by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, pundits have been speculating about a gradual thaw in the tensions over trade and investment between Beijing and Washington.

After all, the top US economic official did get red-carpet treatment in Beijing, and she reciprocated by suggesting the need to repair the relationship between the two economic superpowers.

“There is a personal element in this,” Yellen said, referring to her meetings with Chinese officials. “It involves respect and listening to the other side,” she added, stressing her approach of “disagreeing in an agreeable way”.