China slams Trump’s ‘absurd logic’ on N. Korea

BEIJING: China yesterday derided the “irresponsible and absurd logic” of the United States after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of making Washington’s relationship with North Korea more difficult.

Trump doubled down on his suggestion that China was not helping to rein in its Cold War-era ally, a charge he first levelled when he cancelled a trip to North Korea by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that was due this week.

“A lot of people, like me, feel that the US is first in the world when it comes to twisting the truth, and irresponsible and absurd logic,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying.

Trump’s refusal to direct criticism at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and instead blame other parties for a lack of progress comes despite reports the US received a belligerent letter from Pyongyang, which prompted Pompeo to cancel the trip.

“We hope the US can play a positive and constructive role in settling the issue just like the Chinese. To solve the problem, it should look at itself instead of shifting blame,” Hua said.

On Wednesday, Trump said: “China makes it much more difficult in terms of our relationship with North Korea.

“Part of the North Korea problem is caused by the trade disputes with China.”

But he insisted his ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping were “great” and that he had a “fantastic relationship” with Jong-Un.

He said he was not considering resuming joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula that Pyongyang saw as “provocative”.

Beijing is Pyongyang’s sole major ally, and the main transit country for goods.