by Itunuoluwa Adebo
China might be getting fed up with continued nuclear bluster from long-time ally North Korea and tilting toward the United States.
In the same press conference, spokesman Lu Kang praised recent US statements on the North Korean issue. “American officials did make some positive and constructive remarks, such as using whatever peaceful means possible to resolve the (Korean) Peninsula nuclear issue. This represents a general direction that we believe is correct and should be adhered to,” Lu said.
Statements of that vein do not help the situation, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
“China firmly opposes any words or actions that would escalate rivalry and tension,” Lu said.
US President Donald Trump has been pressing China to rein in North Korea, suggesting that doing so could ease US China relations over trade and other issues.
Experts point out that China also wants to prevent North Korea from becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, and certainly wants to prevent a war on its southern border that could send millions of refugees flooding into China and potentially risk bringing a US military presence to China’s borders.
Earlier this year, China called on the US and North Korea to give up something to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.










