Stephen Lendman

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump spoke by phone - days after they met in Palm Beach, Florida.

Xi stressed the importance of “peaceful means to solve problems,” according to China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, adding:

Trump initiated the call. Xi “stressed China insists on denuclearization on the Korean peninsula to firmly safeguard (regional) peace and stability. Pyongyang claimed the “current grim situation (justifies its) self-defensive and preemptive strike capabilities with the nuclear force at the core.”

Beijing denied reports about deploying 150,000 troops to North Korea’s border, calling them “fabricated.”

During their Mar-a-Lago meeting, both leaders failed to reach consensus on North Korea. Beijing wants things resolved diplomatically.

It believes Trump’s aggression on Syria was a message to Pyongyang, indicating he’s willing to attack its territory unilaterally.

If China won’t help denuclearize North Korea, “we will solve the problem without them,” he said.

International relations expert Zhang Huizhi said China’s options are limited. Its government rejects resolving things militarily.

Force is unacceptable, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned, adding “(a)mid challenge, there is opportunity. Amid tensions, we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks.”

China’s Global Times (GT) reflects Beijing’s policies. It criticized Trump for his Syria and North Korea belligerence, “more aggressive” than Obama, hugely raising the stakes in two vital regions.

It warned against attacking North Korea, calling it “much more risky than launching a missile strike on Syria.”

Pyongyang can strike back hard, “able to deal a heavy blow to South Korea. Regardless of (its) nuclear capability, a radiological dispersal device (dirty bomb) if (launched) on the South (would) cause (devastating) nuclear pollution,” GT explained.

Strategic US misjudgment could spin things out-of-control in two theaters. Washington “hasn’t prepared itself for the worst-case scenario,” said GT.

It “has no power to put global affairs in order at this moment.” It doesn’t understand “this reality.” It’s preparing for greater belligerence with potentially devastating consequences.

US war on the Korean peninsula, along with further aggression against Syria, threatening Russia, could go nuclear in two theaters, a scenario essential to avoid.

Problem-solving requires compromise and consensus. America prefers belligerence to diplomacy. Endless wars rage with no prospect for resolution.

Is escalated US aggression on Syria, risking confrontation with Russia, and striking North Korea next?

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com..