China hits back at Trump tweet on missile test

China hit back yesterday after US President Donald Trump tweeted he was “very disappointed” in the country following Pyongyang’s latest missile test. It said the problem did not arise in China and that all sides need to work for a solution.

On Saturday, North Korea said it had conducted another successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that proved its ability to strike the US mainland, drawing a sharp warning from Trump and a rebuke from China.

Trump tweeted he was “very disappointed” in China and that Beijing “profits” from US trade but had done “nothing” for the United States in regard to North Korea, something he would not allow to continue.

China’s foreign ministry said the international community widely recognized China’s efforts to seek a resolution.

The essence of Sino-US trade is mutual benefit, and the healthy development of business and trade ties is good for both countries, the ministry added.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming told a news conference: “We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-US trade are issues that are in two completely different domains. They aren’t related. They should not be discussed together.”

Qian also emphasized the mutual benefits of China’s trade and investment with the US, rebuffing Trump’s claims that Beijing exploited US trade policies to its advantage.

China wants both balanced trade with the US and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Xinhua news agency said in a commentary.

“However, to realize these goals, Beijing needs a more cooperative partner in the White House, not one who piles blame on China for the United States’ failures.”

The US flew two supersonic B-1B bombers over the peninsula on Sunday in response to the missile test and the July 3 launch of the Hwasong-14 rocket, the Pentagon said. The bombers took off from a US air base in Guam and were joined by Japanese and South Korean jets during the exercise.

“North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability,” Pacific Air Forces commander General Terrence O’Shaughnessy said. “If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke with Trump yesterday and agreed on the need for more action on North Korea just hours after the US Ambassador to the United Nations said Washington is “done talking about North Korea.”

A White House statement after the call said the two agreed North Korea “poses a grave and growing direct threat” to the US, Japan, South Korea and other countries.

It said Trump “reaffirmed our ironclad commitment” to defend Japan and South Korea from any attack.

Abe told reporters after his conversation with Trump that Japan and the US would take steps toward concrete action but did not give details.

The two leaders did not discuss military action against North Korea, nor what would constitute the crossing of a “red line” by Pyongyang, a spokesman for the Japanese government said.