Trump weighs new sanctions against China to pressure Beijing to halt North Korea threat
US president’s aides reportedly plan to use trade restrictions and economic measures against China to press Beijing to rein in Pyongyang
US President Donald Trump’s top advisers are crafting a set of measures, including trade restrictions and economic sanctions against China, to further press North Korea’s major ally to rein in Pyongyang’s escalating nuclear weapons threat, US media reported.
Trump’s aides met over the weekend and will continue their discussions on Monday, with a final decision expected as soon as this week, Politico reported, citing two administration officials as sources. However, the officials said it is too early to say what the president might decide, according to the Washington-based news website.
Trump believes that China is not doing enough to stop Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. In a Twitter message last Saturday, Trump expressed his frustration and linked it with the two nations’ trade disputes.
“I am very disappointed in China,” Trump said. “Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue,” the US president said. “China could easily solve this problem!”