China Warns the United States: Being Stabbed in the Back Is Not OK

Just this morning, China warned the United States to stop the repeated calls for Beijing to put more pressure on North Korea.

The Red Dragon's cautionary statement was uncharacteristically harsh:

"Asking others to do work but doing nothing themselves is not OK," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a daily news briefing today, according to Reuters.

"Being stabbed in the back is really not OK."

Geng didn't name anyone in Washington specifically.

But he didn't need to...

China Warns the U.S. After President Trump Warns... and Threatens... and Tweets...

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his impatience with China, North Korea's chief economic ally, numerous times last week - on both Twitter and via public appearances.

"Trade between China and North Korea grew almost 40% in the first quarter," the president tweeted on July 5. "So much for China working with us - but we had to give it a try!"

Then on July 8, at the recent G20 Summit, the president met briefly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, telling him, "Something must be done about [North Korea]" and promising, in no uncertain terms, "There will be a success... one way or the other," according to FOX News.

And just this past Sunday, on CBS News' "Face the Nation," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stated, "President Donald Trump has made it clear to China that he will 'start looking' at trade relations if it did not help stop North Korea's aggressive behavior."

Haley's threat echoed one of Trump's 2016 campaign talking points - slapping China with massive trade tariffs on steel and other imported goods because he believed the country to be a "currency manipulator."

The renewed tariff warnings, however, pertain to China's refusal to fully cut economic ties with North Korea, which relies on Beijing for 90% of its oil, 80% of its consumer products, and 45% of its food through trade and aid.

But China shirked the Trump admin's warnings today with a few slanderous words of its own...

China Warns the U.S. About Backstabbing an Ally

"I think this either shows lack of a full, correct knowledge of the issue, or there are ulterior motives for it, trying to shift responsibility," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng added this morning.

Geng insisted that China has been making unremitting efforts and has played a constructive role, but says that all parties have to meet each other halfway.

"Recently, certain people, talking about the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, have been exaggerating and giving prominence to the so-called 'China responsibility theory,'" Geng claimed.

While Pyongyang's repeated nuclear and missile tests have angered Beijing, China also blames the United States and South Korea for making matters worse with their joint military exercises and with the THAAD missile defense system installation.

Everyone needs to accept responsibility to curb North Korea's aggression, Geng told members of the Chinese press, before adding, "The 'China responsibility theory' on the peninsula nuclear issue can stop."

Up Next

China thinks it can push the United States and its allies out of Asia altogether to secure its energy riches for itself.

Thanks to a small $6 U.S. defense contractor with top-secret technology, the Pentagon has a plan to stop China dead in its tracks. Click here for the full briefing.

Related Articles:

• Reuters: China Says 'China Responsibility Theory' on North Korea Has to Stop
• FOX News: Trump to Xi: 'Something Has to Be Done' About North Korea
• CBS News: Haley Says China May Face Trade Sanctions If It Continues to "Hold Hands" with N. Korea
• Money Morning: How Does North Korea Make Money?
• Money Morning: The Pentagon Won't Tell You How Dangerous North Korea Is - but Trump Will
• Money Morning: 10 Times We Narrowly Avoided World War 3

Follow Money Morning on Twitter @moneymorning, Facebook, and LinkedIn.