China is getting its knickers in a twist - from China Daily:
Trump asking too much from Beijing on peninsula issue
US President Donald Trump will reportedly sign an executive memorandum on Monday authorizing the US trade representative to determine whether to investigate the allegedly "unfair" Chinese trade practices, which could pave the way for punitive tariffs on Chinese exports.
But it is of critical strategic significance that his administration demonstrates reason and avoids making a rash decision it will soon regret.
Given Trump's transactional approach to foreign affairs, it is impossible to look at the matter without taking into account his increasing disappointment at what he deems as China's failure to bring into line the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. His idea of exploiting trade as a bargaining chip in dealings with China dates back to the campaign trail.
But instead of advancing the United States' interests, politicizing trade will only acerbate the country's economic woes, and poison the overall China-US relationship.
Without China's support, North Korea would fold in a heartbeat (China trade accounts for 90% of the NK GDP). Now that President Trump is applying pressure to China, President Xi is crying foul and saying that it will "poison the overall China-US relationship".
A strong North Korea is a serious detriment to world peace and China could reign it in with a few strokes of a pen - why not do this? Why do they protest so much?
This is what leadership looks like.
