US, China trade barbs over N Korea denuclearisation
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump accused China of undermining US efforts to pressure North Korea into giving up its nuclear weapons, indicating his trade war with Beijing is starting to exacerbate geopolitical tensions.
“North Korea is under tremendous pressure from China because of our major trade disputes with the Chinese Government,” Trump t weeted on Wednesday. “At the same time, we also know that China is providing North Korea with considerable aid, including money, fuel, fertilizer and various other commodities. This is not helpful!”
China fired back on Thursday, saying it’s policies on North Korea “are clear, consistent and stable”. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China hopes the US will play a positive role in bringing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“In the face of difficulties, the US should look to itself for reasons and reflection,” Hua said. “As to the US’S buck-passing behaviour, sorry, China won’t take the blame.”
Trump’s remarks deepen concerns that the trade spat will morph into a protracted conflict that looks similar to last century’s rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Suspicions have risen that the tariffs are part of a wider strategy to thwart China’s rise as a global power.
The trade war between the US and China is primed to escalate further after their governments failed to make progress last week. The US has slapped tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports so far, with another $200 billion in the pipeline that could take effect as early as next month. China has retaliated with equal tariffs.
“As for the Us–china trade disputes, and other differences, they will be resolved in time by President Trump and China’s great President Xi Jinping,” Trump said on Wednesday.
The US has leaned heavily on China, which shares a border with North Korea and is its largest trading partner, to help enforce tougher sanctions imposed last year against Kim Jong Un’s regime. China “is the route to North Korea,” Trump said on Wednesday.
NO REASON TO RESUME WAR GAMES: TRUMP
Days after cancelling a planned visit to North Korea by his top diplomat, US President Donald Trump said there was no reason to resume war games with South Korea.
Trump also hailed his personal relationship with North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un.
His statement came a day after his defence secretary Jim Mattis hinted that the drills, which North Korea denounces as rehearsals for invasion, could resume.
Trump caught many off guard when he announced after a summit with Kim on June 12 that the US was suspending this summer’s joint military drills with South Korea.