China calls for restraint as US carrier group nears Korean waters

[nitpicker]

Source: DW

China calls for restraint as US carrier group nears Korean waters

China's president has urged US President Donald Trump to show restraint in dealing with North Korea. Trump also spoke with Japan's premier Shinzo Abe as a US fleet heading to Korean waters trained with Japanese warships. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both spoke with Trump by phone on Monday amid concerns Pyongyang might carry out another nuclear test this week, in defiance of UN sanctions.

According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi told Trump that China opposes any actions that run counter to UN Security Council resolutions. "[China] hopes that all relevant sides exercise restraint, and avoid doing anything to worsen the tense situation on the peninsula," Xi was paraphrased as saying.

Despite condemning the belligerence of North Korea, China remains its only major ally and economic lifeline and fears what may happen if its poverty-plagued neighbor wages war or collapses.

Earlier, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed over the phone to maintain close contact with the US, on the issue. "We agreed to strongly demand that North Korea, which is repeating its provocation, show restraint," Abe told reporters Monday, adding that he and Trump also agreed China should play a larger role in dealing with Pyongyang.

North Korea's reclusive regime, led by Kim Jong Un, often conducts its weapons tests to coincide with days of national significance. On Tuesday the country marks the 85th anniversary of its army's founding.
(snip)

Read more: http://www.dw.com/en/china-calls-for-restraint-as-us-carrier-group-nears-korean-waters/a-38557381

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. A call for restraint? From China?

From the country that's building military bases on every little reef and atoll in the South China Seas and chasing non-Chinese fishermen from international waters so they can hog the food?

How Trumpian of them.

[mainer]

4. pot calling the kettle black

Funny you should attack China for being overmilitarized.

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS

[cstanleytech]

8. That does not negate the irony of China calling for restraint

when it's guilty of fanning the flames in the South China Sea with it's continued attempts at claiming territory that other countries have a more legitimate claim to.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Compared to China, North Korea shows restraint.

NK, while being overmilitarized beyond recognition, is not expanding their geographic claims to include vast swaths of ocean. So far, they seem happy to oppress themselves, in a "NK First" strategy.

[xor]

10. But in this particular situation they are correct and reasonable.

Grant you, they are only looking out for their best interests, but in this case their best interest seems to be in the best interest of the most everyone else in the world.

[nitpicker]

2. Still in the Philippine Sea on Sunday

http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/national/carrier-heading-korea-trains-japanese-destroyers-article-1.3090440

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. China is unable to transition itself to democracy, so they don't know what to do with N Korea. . nt

[harun]

5. They love that NK is giving the U.S. grief. That way the rest of what they are doing

isn't getting scrutinized. Like Taiwan and Mischief Reef.

[Nitram]

6. I have to admit it is refreshing to have the Chinese urging the US to exercise restraint.

We're always doing that with them and they just ignore us. Wreck coral reefs to build artificial islands with landing strips and missile launchers.

[Javaman]

7. I have this very scary feeling...

that on on day 100 of the orange menaces reign of terror, while he's basking in the glow of stupidity at his rally of ignorance, he will announce that the missiles have been launched and we have broken the cease fire with NK.

[Rustyeye77]

11. Real simple Xi...

shut down Nk nuclear program.