U.S. PRESSURES China for more results in ending North Korea nuclear threat.
Goal is reining in N. Korea
WASHINGTON — Less than three months after President Donald Trump and China’s leader strolled the manicured lawns at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the White House is engaged in a multipronged pressure campaign against Beijing over the limited results of their cooperation on ending North Korea’s nuclear threat.
Delivering a one-two punch to China on Thursday, the Trump administration approved a $1.4 billion arms sale to Taiwan and blacklisted a small Chinese bank over its business ties with North Korea. The State Department earlier in the week gave Beijing a dismal grade in a new human trafficking report endorsed by Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser.
Until recently, American officials had been hailing the improved coordination with China and describing it as the centerpiece of their strategy for preventing North Korea’s isolated totalitarian government from being able to strike the U.S. homeland with nuclear weapons.
Trump hinted at his loss of patience last week, tweeting that his bid to secure a tougher Chinese approach “has not worked out.” China represents about 90 percent of North Korea’s trade. After a meeting Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that focused heavily on North Korea, Trump made no reference to Beijing.
Trump’s rapid flip-flops on China are a departure from the practice of past U.S. presidents, who found persistent behind-the-scenes pressure and engagement of Beijing more likely than confrontations to produce deals on everything from carbon emissions to currency exchange rates.
As a candidate, Trump was blisteringly critical of China, saying he would not allow the Chinese “to rape our country.” He also fielded a call from Taiwan’s president weeks after his election. Trump’s tone drastically shifted in the run-up to the Florida meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He toned down threats to upend the U.S. “One China” policy, which acknowledges Beijing’s claim to Taiwan, and said China doesn’t manipulate its currency.
Amid the unpredictability, China’s government has relied heavily on a close relationship that has developed between its U.S. ambassador, Cui Tiankai, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. Kushner, who is heavily involved in foreign policy, speaks frequently with the ambassador.
“I think that channel has not provided them with the correct understanding with what they need to do on a range of issues,” said Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “On North Korea, they just didn’t hit the mark.”
The White House insisted that its actions last week were not aimed at punishing China for its reluctance to ramp up pressure on North Korea. The State Department said the arms sale to Taiwan was approved under a long-standing U.S. policy to help the self-governing island’s self-defense. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who announced the sanctions on the Chinese bank, said “we are in no way targeting China.”
But officials, particularly at the White House, have voiced increased exasperation in recent days.
Dennis Wilder, who spent four years as President George W. Bush’s top East Asia adviser and six years as senior editor of President Barack Obama’s daily intelligence briefing, pointed to what he heard was a disappointing U.S.-China security dialogue last week.
Instead of engaging in an open back-and-forth on North Korea strategy, he said, Chinese officials including foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi presented Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis with well-recited policy positions.
“The Trump administration was looking for a candid dialogue, not talking points,” said Wilder, now a Georgetown University professor, adding that Mattis and Tillerson left with the impression that China was “very reluctant” to take on its banks doing illicit business with North Korea. “The body language was clear: China is still not willing to see North Korea as a strategic problem.”