Lee Seong-hyon says despite its denials, China is not above mixing politics with economics to gain an upper hand in international relations. Neither is America under Trump. It’s safe to say the North Korea nuclear issue is a consideration
In a gentlemen’s world, one does not mix apples and oranges. (Actually, we learned that early on, in kindergarten.) In a gentleman’s world, one also does not mix politics with trade; otherwise, the global free trade structure will crumble. Both Washington and Beijing claim they are gentlemen, in which case they should treat the North Korean nuclear issue and the US-China trade war as separate issues. But the idea that China may use North Korea as leverage in the trade war keeps popping up.
The probing question should be: are we living in a gentlemen’s world now, especially amid the increasing rivalry, competition and distrust between China and the United States?
Both Washington and Beijing feign political correctness.
When Mike Pompeo was asked, on January 7, whether the ongoing trade war was undermining progress on North Korea’s denuclearisation, the US secretary of state insisted, “The Chinese have been very clear to us that these are separate issues”, labelling China “a good partner” in Pyongyang’s nuclear disarmament.
