China says Washington must stop blaming 'China for the United States' failures' with North Korea

Beijing responded Monday to President Trump's Sunday Twitter attack on China in which he claimed the country does "NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk" when it could "easily solve" the problem of Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

A statement from the Chinese foreign ministry said all "parties should have a correct understanding" of the North Korea situation, arguing, in Reuters' paraphrase, that "the North Korean nuclear issue did not arise because of China and that everyone needed to work together to seek a resolution."

Comments published in Chinese state media outlets were more direct. "Pyongyang is determined to develop its nuclear and missile program and does not care about military threats from the U.S. and South Korea," said Global Times, which is published by the Communist Party. "How could Chinese sanctions change the situation?"

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Likewise, the state-run Xinhua news agency published commentary arguing that Beijing cannot realize its goals of mutually beneficial trade and peace in Korea without "a more cooperative partner in the White House, not one who piles blame on China for the United States' failures."