POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: US Treasury’s Bessent, China’s He to launch talks on AI, trade, critical minerals
The Claim A viral post circulating across social media platforms and news aggregators claims that U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs, Wally Adeyemo, and Chinese Deputy Foreign...
The Claim
A viral post circulating across social media platforms and news aggregators claims that U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs, Wally Adeyemo, and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei are set to launch high-level talks focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), trade, and critical minerals. The post, attributed to Reuters, was shared widely under the headline US Treasury’s Bessent, China’s He to launch talks on AI, trade, critical minerals, and included a link to what appears to be a Google News article.
The original source material cited by the viral post is a Google News RSS feed link that does not directly lead to a verified Reuters article or official statement from either government. Instead, the link appears to be an internal or non-public URL, raising questions about its authenticity. The claim gained traction among users who interpreted it as an indication of new diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China on key economic and technological issues, particularly in the context of growing competition over AI development and access to strategic resources like rare earth elements.
The Details & Investigation
Upon investigation, no official announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department or the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the existence of such a meeting between Under Secretary Wally Adeyemo and Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei. A search of the U.S. Treasury’s public calendar, press releases, and official statements reveals no mention of scheduled talks with Chinese officials on AI, trade, or critical minerals. Similarly, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued any related communiqués or press briefings indicating planned discussions with U.S. counterparts on these topics.
The original source cited in the viral post—Reuters—is not directly linked to the claim. The URL provided in the post is a Google News RSS feed, which typically aggregates content from various sources and may not represent a standalone article. When attempting to access the URL, it leads to a generic Google News page rather than a specific story. This lack of direct attribution raises concerns about the credibility of the original source and suggests that the claim may have been misattributed or taken out of context.
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Furthermore, there is no record of prior meetings between U.S. Treasury officials and Chinese counterparts on this exact topic. While both nations have engaged in regular diplomatic and economic dialogues, the specific focus on AI, trade, and critical minerals as outlined in the viral post has not been publicly documented. Given the sensitivity of these issues—particularly in the context of U.S.-China strategic competition—it would be unusual for such a meeting to occur without official confirmation or press coverage.
Based on the evidence, the claim appears to be a case of MISINFORMATION. The original source is unclear, the details are unverified, and the claim lacks supporting documentation. However, there is no conclusive evidence that the claim was deliberately fabricated or part of a coordinated disinformation campaign. It is more likely that the claim originated from a misinterpretation or misattribution of a less prominent news item or internal communication that was then amplified without verification.
The Verdict
The viral claim that U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Wally Adeyemo and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei are set to launch talks on AI, trade, and critical minerals is not supported by verified evidence. No official announcements, press releases, or credible reports confirm the existence of such a meeting. The source cited in the claim is ambiguous and does not provide a direct link to a legitimate article or statement from either government.
While the claim may have been spread unintentionally due to a lack of clarity in the original source, it does not constitute deliberate disinformation. Therefore, the claim is rated as MISLEADING. It contains elements that could be interpreted as factual but lacks the necessary verification to be considered accurate.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
