Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)

Trump’s belligerent unpredictability could embroil East Asia in devastating conflict.

America’s rage to impose its will on all other nations risks unthinkable nuclear war.

Trump earlier said “we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. We’d love to solve things diplomatically, but it’s very difficult.”

He called the DPRK his biggest diplomatic challenge - “an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority,” according to administration officials.

China rejects belligerence. War is “not acceptable,” its Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed. “The Korean peninsula is not the Middle East. If war breaks out, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

China’s position is firm, Korean peninsula denuclearization its aim, diplomacy and dialogue the only way to resolve things.

War on its border is a “red line” it demands not be crossed. Beijing and Washington are world’s apart on North Korea. America’s rage for belligerence makes the peninsula a hugely dangerous flashpoint.

On Sunday, Trump and Xi spoke by phone. Offensive pressure substituted for constructive dialogue, the way America usually operates, accomplishing little or nothing.

Late Monday, in response to another DPRK ballistic missile test called successful by its defense ministry, Trump said it’s time for China to act - wanting crippling economic sanctions imposed Beijing justifiably rejects.

Korean peninsula instability threatens its security. Trump rejects the only sensible approach - opting for tough talk and unacceptable demands instead of diplomatic outreach.

Trump calling the DPRK a “growing threat” is nonsense. It’s the other way around. America represents a major threat to Pyongyang and all other independent governments - targeted for regime change, naked aggression Washington’s favored strategy of choice.

On Sunday, in response to more US provocations, including its latest naval intrusion in Chinese waters and Trump telling Xi Washington will act on its own if Beijing doesn’t crack down hard on the DPRK, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said his government “will continue to take all necessary means to defend its national sovereignty and security.”

Later this week, Trump and Xi will meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Expect little or no resolution on major differences between both countries on dealings with North Korea.

China urges carrots. Washington’s approach is sticks. Diplomacy is the only way to resolve things. Toughness is reckless, accomplishing little or nothing.

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

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