Yellen lands in Beijing for high-stakes meetings with top Chinese officials

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing on Thursday for high-stakes meetings with senior Chinese officials. It's her first visit to China as treasury secretary and comes as the U.S. and China have seen escalating tensions over national security and technology. 

"I am glad to be in Beijing to meet with Chinese officials and business leaders," Yellen tweeted after arriving in Beijing. "We seek a healthy economic competition that benefits American workers and firms and to collaborate on global challenges. We will take action to protect our national security when needed, and this trip presents an opportunity to communicate and avoid miscommunication or misunderstanding."

Yellen is the second top-ranking Biden administration official to head to China in recent weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing last month, where he met with President Xi Jinping. Blinken said both sides agreed on the need to stabilize the U.S.-China relationship. His visit came after a previously scheduled visit had been rescheduled amid tensions after the U.S. shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon in February. There has also been tension over trade and the U.S. move to block Chinese access to some technologies.