Trump says China caught ‘red-handed allowing oil’ to reach North Korea
US president’s tweeted allegation has escalated diplomatic tensions with Beijing that are being fought on several fronts
US President Donald Trump accused China of violating sanctions meant to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, escalating diplomatic tensions with Beijing that are being fought on several fronts.
Trump’s latest Twitter jab, retweeted from the official White House account, marked a return to aggressive foreign policy messaging after a week of posts on the social media website largely focused on the domestic issue of tax reform legislation passed by his party.
Speaking later to The New York Times, Trump said he had “been soft” on China regarding trade in the hope that its leaders would do more to rein in North Korea. He called on China “to help us much more” and signalled he might otherwise take punitive trade actions.
“If they don’t help us with North Korea, then I do what I’ve always said I want to do,” Trump said.
