Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., said Friday that the Trump administration should do more to peacefully de-escalate tensions with North Korea. (Photo: U.S. Institute for Peace/Flickr/cc)
China Calls On U.S. to Stop Threats and Resume Dialogue with North Korea
"China does not hold the key to resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue. Those who tied the knots are responsible for untying [them]."
Chinese officials urged the Trump administration on Friday to halt its threats of military action against North Korea and rejected the notion, pushed by the president in recent weeks, that China is responsible for helping to resolve escalating tensions with military threats of its own.
"[The US] should refrain from issuing more threats," said Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. "They should do more to find effective ways to resume dialogue and negotiation. Honestly, I think the United States should be doing...much more than now, so that there's real effective international cooperation on this issue."
Ciu's remarks came after a press conference given by U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and national security advisor H.R. McMaster, who warned that the U.S. could resort to a military option following North Korea's latest missile test over Japan.
Haley and McMaster insisted military action is "not what we prefer to do," but a White House spokesperson repeated the administration's position that diplomacy is not an option, saying on Friday that "now is not the time to talk to North Korea."
The U.S. announced its latest round of harsh sanctions on the isolated nation this week, affecting oil, gas, and other exports to North Korea. Kim Jong-un said Saturday that the sanctions will not stop him from continuing to develop the country's nuclear program in the hopes of achieving "the equilibrium of real force with the U.S. and make the U.S. rulers dare not talk about a military option."
While President Donald Trump has said in recent weeks that China should do more to stop North Korea from continuing its military tests, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry joined Cui in urging the U.S. to take responsibility for its current tensions with the Kim regime.
"China is not to blame for the escalation of tensions," said the spokesperson. "China does not hold the key to resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, either. Those who tied the knots are responsible for untying [them]."
Trump responded to North Korea's testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month by spontaneously threatening to respond to more testing with "fire and fury," alarming the international community and contributing to the growing discord between the two nations.
Along with China, a number of international leaders have called for diplomacy as a means to put an end to North Korea's nuclear development.
Polls also show that most Americans disapprove of the president's bellicose approach to the North Korean regime, and fear U.S. military strikes against the country.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Chinese officials urged the Trump administration on Friday to halt its threats of military action against North Korea and rejected the notion, pushed by the president in recent weeks, that China is responsible for helping to resolve escalating tensions with military threats of its own.
"[The US] should refrain from issuing more threats," said Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. "They should do more to find effective ways to resume dialogue and negotiation. Honestly, I think the United States should be doing...much more than now, so that there's real effective international cooperation on this issue."
Ciu's remarks came after a press conference given by U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and national security advisor H.R. McMaster, who warned that the U.S. could resort to a military option following North Korea's latest missile test over Japan.
Haley and McMaster insisted military action is "not what we prefer to do," but a White House spokesperson repeated the administration's position that diplomacy is not an option, saying on Friday that "now is not the time to talk to North Korea."
The U.S. announced its latest round of harsh sanctions on the isolated nation this week, affecting oil, gas, and other exports to North Korea. Kim Jong-un said Saturday that the sanctions will not stop him from continuing to develop the country's nuclear program in the hopes of achieving "the equilibrium of real force with the U.S. and make the U.S. rulers dare not talk about a military option."
While President Donald Trump has said in recent weeks that China should do more to stop North Korea from continuing its military tests, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry joined Cui in urging the U.S. to take responsibility for its current tensions with the Kim regime.
"China is not to blame for the escalation of tensions," said the spokesperson. "China does not hold the key to resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, either. Those who tied the knots are responsible for untying [them]."
Trump responded to North Korea's testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month by spontaneously threatening to respond to more testing with "fire and fury," alarming the international community and contributing to the growing discord between the two nations.
Along with China, a number of international leaders have called for diplomacy as a means to put an end to North Korea's nuclear development.
Polls also show that most Americans disapprove of the president's bellicose approach to the North Korean regime, and fear U.S. military strikes against the country.
Chinese officials urged the Trump administration on Friday to halt its threats of military action against North Korea and rejected the notion, pushed by the president in recent weeks, that China is responsible for helping to resolve escalating tensions with military threats of its own.
"[The US] should refrain from issuing more threats," said Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. "They should do more to find effective ways to resume dialogue and negotiation. Honestly, I think the United States should be doing...much more than now, so that there's real effective international cooperation on this issue."
Ciu's remarks came after a press conference given by U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and national security advisor H.R. McMaster, who warned that the U.S. could resort to a military option following North Korea's latest missile test over Japan.
Haley and McMaster insisted military action is "not what we prefer to do," but a White House spokesperson repeated the administration's position that diplomacy is not an option, saying on Friday that "now is not the time to talk to North Korea."
The U.S. announced its latest round of harsh sanctions on the isolated nation this week, affecting oil, gas, and other exports to North Korea. Kim Jong-un said Saturday that the sanctions will not stop him from continuing to develop the country's nuclear program in the hopes of achieving "the equilibrium of real force with the U.S. and make the U.S. rulers dare not talk about a military option."
While President Donald Trump has said in recent weeks that China should do more to stop North Korea from continuing its military tests, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry joined Cui in urging the U.S. to take responsibility for its current tensions with the Kim regime.
"China is not to blame for the escalation of tensions," said the spokesperson. "China does not hold the key to resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, either. Those who tied the knots are responsible for untying [them]."
Trump responded to North Korea's testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month by spontaneously threatening to respond to more testing with "fire and fury," alarming the international community and contributing to the growing discord between the two nations.
Along with China, a number of international leaders have called for diplomacy as a means to put an end to North Korea's nuclear development.
Polls also show that most Americans disapprove of the president's bellicose approach to the North Korean regime, and fear U.S. military strikes against the country.