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Donald Trump calls on China to 'act faster' over North Korea threat Donald Trump heaps praise on China and blames US for trade deficit
(about 3 hours later)
Donald Trump has urged President Xi Jinping of China to take fast and effective action to extinguish North Korea’s nuclear “menace” after the US president was officially welcomed to Beijing with an explosion of military splendour and staged adulation. Donald Trump has lavished praise on Chinese president Xi Jinping and blamed his American predecessors for the “huge” trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies, as he was officially welcomed to Beijing with an explosion of military splendour and staged adulation.
Speaking at the the Great Hall of the People, the ceremonial heart of Communist party rule, Trump lavished praise on his “warm and gracious” host and said he appreciated Xi’s support for recent efforts to rein in Kim Jong-un’s weapons programs. Speaking on Thursday at the the Great Hall of the People, the ceremonial heart of Communist party rule, Trump paid tribute to his “warm and gracious” host, and said he appreciated Xi’s support for recent efforts to rein in North Korea’s weapons programs.
“But time is quickly running out. We must act fast, and hopefully China will act faster and more effectively on this problem than anyone,” Trump – who landed in Beijing the previous afternoon as part of his 12-day Asia tour – told an audience of business leaders and journalists. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly lashed out at China accusing it of “raping” the US economy and being the country’s “enemy”. But on the second day of his visit to Beijing as part of his 12-day tour of Asia, he struck a far softer tone.
“Trade between China and the United States has not been over the last many, many years a very fair one for us,” Trump told an audience of business leaders and journalists, describing the relationship as “shockingly” unbalanced and costing the US $300bn a year.
However, to an audible gasp from the audience, the US president then went on to suggest that it was not China to blame, but the US itself.
“Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair [relationship]. But – but – I don’t blame China. After all, who can blame a country for taking advantage of another country for the benefit of its own citizens? I give China great credit.
“But in actuality I do blame past [US] administrations for allowing this out of control trade deficit to take place and to grow. We have to fix this because it just doesn’t work … it is just not sustainable.”
US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, later tried to clarify Trump’s comments. “Well, as I was sitting there listening to that, there was a little bit of tongue-in-cheek in that characterisation. But there was also a lot of truth to it,” he told reporters.
In his eight-minute address, Trump also urged Xi to “act faster and more effectively” to extinguish North Korea’s nuclear “menace”.
The US president must grapple with the thorny issues of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as well as trade wars in Asia on one of the trickiest diplomatic tours in decades.The US president must grapple with the thorny issues of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as well as trade wars in Asia on one of the trickiest diplomatic tours in decades.
Trump warns of the North Korean threat and says Japanese orders for US-made military equipment will help keep Japan safe. Read moreTrump warns of the North Korean threat and says Japanese orders for US-made military equipment will help keep Japan safe. Read more
The North Korea rhetoric softens as the president suggests he is open to diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis. Read moreThe North Korea rhetoric softens as the president suggests he is open to diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis. Read more
Xi Jinping is likely to roll out the reddest of red carpets for Trump during his three days in Beijing. The difficult issues of trade and North Korea (again) are likely to dominate the agenda. Xi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for Trump, who lavishes praise on his host and blames his American predecessors for the 'huge' trade deficit between the US and China. Read more
Trump swings through Da Nang for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (featuring one Vladimir Putin), before flying to Hanoi for talks with Vietnam’s president about boosting economic and security cooperation.Trump swings through Da Nang for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (featuring one Vladimir Putin), before flying to Hanoi for talks with Vietnam’s president about boosting economic and security cooperation.
US-Filipino relations have plummeted under President Rodrigo Duterte, who shares some populist and mercurial characteristics with his guest. The war on drugs and Islamic terror could join North Korea on the agenda.US-Filipino relations have plummeted under President Rodrigo Duterte, who shares some populist and mercurial characteristics with his guest. The war on drugs and Islamic terror could join North Korea on the agenda.
“China can fix this problem easily and quickly and I am calling on China and your great president to hopefully work on it very hard.
“I know one thing about your president: if he works on it hard it will happen,” the US president added, to laughter. “There is no doubt about it.”“I know one thing about your president: if he works on it hard it will happen,” the US president added, to laughter. “There is no doubt about it.”
In his eight-minute address, Trump also issued an unexpectedly blunt, if indirect, rebuke to Xi over the US-China trade relationship, which he said was “shockingly” unbalanced and costing the US $300bn a year.
“Right now, unfortunately, it is a very one-sided and unfair [relationship]. But – but – I don’t blame China,” he went on. “After all, who can blame a country for taking advantage of another country for the benefit of its own citizens? I give China great credit.
“But in actuality I do blame past administrations for allowing this out of control trade deficit to take place and to grow. We have to fix this because it just doesn’t work … it is just not sustainable.”
Xi and Trump unveiled more than $250bn in economic deals, a move one Chinese official hailed as “truly a miracle”, but sceptics believe were likely to have materialised even without the US president’s visit.Xi and Trump unveiled more than $250bn in economic deals, a move one Chinese official hailed as “truly a miracle”, but sceptics believe were likely to have materialised even without the US president’s visit.
Earlier, Xi greeted Trump at the eastern steps of the Mao-era Great Hall, where he was met on a red carpet by members of China’s top leadership and a military guard of honour.Earlier, Xi greeted Trump at the eastern steps of the Mao-era Great Hall, where he was met on a red carpet by members of China’s top leadership and a military guard of honour.
The leaders of the world’s two largest economies watched a military parade from a podium outside the venue and were greeted by flag-waving school children from both China and the US. The leaders of the world’s two largest economies watched a military parade and were greeted by flag-waving school children from both China and the US.
POTUS and FLOTUS join President Xi and Madame Peng of China at the Great Hall of People to kick off today's bilateral meetings. #POTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/fp8NuA7XhKPOTUS and FLOTUS join President Xi and Madame Peng of China at the Great Hall of People to kick off today's bilateral meetings. #POTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/fp8NuA7XhK
China has painted Trump’s reception as an unusually enthusiastic tribute to a respected foreign friend. “This trip has been peppered with all sorts of unprecedented events,” Jonathan Betz, an American news anchor who was hosting rolling coverage of the “very, very special welcome” for the Communist party-controlled broadcaster CGTN, told viewers as Trump arrived in Tiananmen Square. China has painted Trump’s reception as an unusually enthusiastic tribute to a respected foreign friend. On Thursday night Trump was honoured with a state banquet at which guests were served grouper fillets in chilli oil, coconut-flavoured chicken soup and wines from the Great Wall winery in China’s Hebei province.
Betz pointed to Xi’s decision to invite Trump for dinner in the Forbidden City after his arrival on Wednesday as evidence that rare and special treatment was being bestowed upon the Manhattan property tycoon. “This is not necessarily normal … China really is putting on a show to make sure President Trump feels welcome,” Betz said, adding: “China has rolled out the red carpet literally and figuratively … China is pulling all the stops out.” Tonight's state banquet menu. Photo by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun pic.twitter.com/5qCswfSPvM
However, Jorge Guajardo, Mexico’s former ambassador to Beijing, said China’s claims to be giving Trump unprecedented treatment was a classic diplomatic ploy. “The Chinese are very, very, very good at style with no substance,” said Guajardo, who hosted two Mexican presidents in China during his six years as its top diplomat there. “China and the United States, once involved in animosity, have grown into a community with our interests converging,” Xi reportedly said in his toast.
“I can’t tell you how many times they [would say] things like: ‘Well, this is the first time we are doing this’ and … ‘Party Secretary Xi personally requested this’. They dress it up and they prime you to walk in already thinking you are winning. Trump replied: “Though we come from different places and far away lands, there is much that binds the east and the west.”
“It works. It works so well. They are so good at it … It means nothing – but they sell it to you as a huge deal.” Ely Ratner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described the US president’s comments on trade as “by far Trump’s biggest mistake so far on Asia trip”.
Guajardo recalled accompanying Mexico’s former president, Felipe Calderón, on a visit to a stretch of the Great Wall near Beijing during a 2008 state visit. “Oh, Mr President! Of all the foreign visitors that have visited, you are the one who has reached the highest point!” he recalls a Chinese official telling the Mexican leader. “You fly away and if they ask you how it went you say, ‘It was great!’” Guajardo said. “What did you get out of it? Nothing.” “Shameful. Terrible message to American workers and the region. Should be red meat for Democrats,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ely Ratner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump’s VIP treatment was a Chinese attempt to flatter and impress the volatile US leader. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly lashed out at China accusing it of “raping” the US economy and being the country’s “enemy”. Ratner said Trump’s VIP treatment was a Chinese attempt to flatter and impress the volatile US leader
Ratner said: “It’s clearly an effort to try get him to back off on some of the more punitive actions that the administration is considering on North Korea and trade and investment.” : “It’s clearly an effort to try to get him to back off on some of the more punitive actions that the administration is considering on North Korea and trade and investment.”
Xi’s attempts to massage Trump’s ego seemed to work. Overnight Trump changed his Twitter header image to a photograph of his visit to the Forbidden City. “President Xi, thank you for such an incredible welcome ceremony. It was a truly memorable and impressive display!” he tweeted on Thursday. Xi’s attempts to massage Trump’s ego appear to have worked. Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Trump thanked Xi for his “absolutely terrific” welcome to China and said he harboured “incredibly warm” feelings towards a man now seen as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.
Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Trump thanked Xi for his “absolutely terrific” welcome to China and said he harboured “incredibly warm” feelings towards a man now seen as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.
“You are a very special man,” Trump told Xi.“You are a very special man,” Trump told Xi.
Xi was more restrained in his choice of words, although he hailed Trump’s successful and historic visit and said he hoped the US and China could “write more and more great stories” together in the future. Xi was more restrained in his choice of words, although he hailed Trump’s successful and historic visit, and said he hoped the US and China could “write more and more great stories” together in the future.
The Chinese president did not directly respond to Trump’s call for faster action on North Korea, but told reporters Beijing was committed to solving the crisis “through dialogue and negotiation”.The Chinese president did not directly respond to Trump’s call for faster action on North Korea, but told reporters Beijing was committed to solving the crisis “through dialogue and negotiation”.
“We are ready to discuss with relevant parties the pathway leading to enduring peace and stability on the peninsular and in north-east Asia.” “We are ready to discuss with relevant parties the pathway leading to enduring peace and stability on the peninsula and in north-east Asia.”
North Korean state media earlier rebuffed Trump’s diplomatic overtures, one day after he offered Pyongyang a “path to a much better future”. Official news agency KCNA called Trump a “lunatic old man” and said the US should oust him in order to escape “the abyss of doom”. Xi also played down tensions between Beijing and Washington: “As two distinctive countries, our two sides may have different views or differences on some issues. This is only natural. The key is to properly handle and manage them.”
An unnamed North Korean official told CNN: “We don’t care about what that mad dog may utter because we’ve already heard enough.” North Korean state media earlier rebuffed Trump’s diplomatic overtures. Official news agency KCNA called Trump a “lunatic old man” and said the US should oust him in order to escape “the abyss of doom”.
Additional reporting by Benjamin Haas. In a statement to journalists in Beijing, Trump said: “All responsible nations must join together to stop arming and financing – and even trading with – the murderous North Korean regime.
“Together, we have in our power to finally liberate this region and the world from this very serious nuclear menace. But it will require collective action, collective strength, and collective devotion to winning the peace.”
Additional reporting by Benjamin Haas