China wasn’t at the table but Trump-Kim talks reinforced its role, analysts say
They say it will be hard to push forward denuclearisation without Beijing
Even though Beijing did not take part in the meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, China watchers say it gained from it.
When Trump and Kim wrapped up their history-making summit at a luxury hotel in Singapore by signing what many observers say is “no more than a symbolic” agreement, it reinforced the role of Beijing – Pyongyang’s closest ally and largest trading partner – according to analysts.
Speaking to the news media after the summit, Trump said he would call Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the talks. “China is a great country and [it has a] great leader who is a friend of mine. I believe he is happy we made this progress. I heard from him. I will call him shortly – maybe before I land,” Trump said.
Although Beijing was not officially involved in the landmark talks, China’s influence over the reclusive North Korean regime had still been felt, analysts said, and the “symbolic” nature of the agreement shed light on its role in the process.
“This has shown that the disputes between Washington and Pyongyang remain large and cannot be resolved in a single summit,” said Cheng Xiaohe, a Korean affairs expert at Renmin University of China.