Rex Tillerson concluded his first trip to Asia as secretary of state, sounding optimistic about the prospects for U. S. cooperation with China on the North
Rex Tillerson concluded his first trip to Asia as secretary of state, sounding optimistic about the prospects for U. S. cooperation with China on the North Korean nuclear issue.
The upbeat notes he struck in Beijing contrasted with his remarks on Friday in Seoul about how all options, including military strikes against North Korea, remain on the table.
As if to underline the seriousness of the situation, even as Tillerson was discussing North Korea with his Chinese hosts, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the test launch of a new rocket engine. Pyongyang called the test « of historic significance, » although its capabilities and possible uses are not yet clear.
On Sunday, Tillerson made no public mention of the test as he met with President Xi Jinping in the cavernous Great Hall of the People on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Both men effused about phone calls and letters exchanged so far between Xi and President Trump. Tillerson’s visit is expected to pave the way for their first meeting, as early as next month, at Trump’s private club in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
« I also appreciate your comment, » Xi told his guest, « that the China-U. S. relationship can only be defined by cooperation and friendship. » It’s not clear when or to whom Tillerson made such a remark.
At a press conference on Saturday with his Chinese counterpart, Tillerson noted that the U. S. would continue to raise thorny issues with China, including maritime disputes in the South China Sea, as well as human rights and religious freedoms.
But North Korea’s continued progress towards putting a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of striking U. S. territory has forced the North Korea issue to the forefront of U. S.-China relations.
« We renewed our determination to work together, » Tillerson said, « to convince the North Korean government to choose a better path and a different future for its people. »
Tillerson said Beijing and Washington agree that the situation on the Korean peninsula has « reached a rather dangerous level.
