Trump says he doesn't want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties

[webfact]

Trump says he doesn't want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties

By Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping pose for a photo ahead of their bilateral meeting during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a further deterioration of his relationship with China over the novel coronavirus, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even cut ties with the world's second largest economy.

 

In an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Thursday, Trump said he was very disappointed with China's failure to contain the disease and that the pandemic had cast a pall over his January trade deal with Beijing, which he has previously hailed as a major achievement.

 

"They should have never let this happen," Trump said. "So I make a great trade deal and now I say this doesn't feel the same to me. The ink was barely dry and the plague came over. And it doesn't feel the same to me."

 

Trump's pique extended to Xi, with whom the U.S. president has said repeatedly he has a good relationship.

 

"But I just – right now I don't want to speak to him," Trump said in the interview, which was taped on Wednesday.

 

Trump was asked about a Republican senator's suggestion that U.S. visas be denied to Chinese students applying to study in fields related to national security, such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

 

"There are many things we could do. We could do things. We could cut off the whole relationship," he replied.

 

"Now, if you did, what would happen? You'd save $500 billion," Trump said, referring to estimated U.S. annual imports from China, which he often refers to as lost money.

 

The remark drew ridicule from Hu Xijin, editor in chief of China's influential Global Times tabloid, who referred to Trump's much-criticized comments last month about how COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, might be treated.

 

"This president once suggested COVID-19 patients inject disinfectants," Hu said on Twitter. "Remember this and you won't be surprised when he said he could cut off the whole relationship with China."

 

Trump and his Republican backers have accused Beijing of failing to alert the world to the severity and scope of the coronavirus outbreak, which has sparked a sharp global recession and threatened his November re-election chances.

 

The United States has been hardest hit by the pandemic, according to official data.

 

China insists it has been transparent, and amid increasingly bitter exchanges both sides have questioned the future of the trade deal.

 

Opponents of Trump have said that while China has much to answer for over the outbreak, he appears to be seeking to deflect attention from criticism over his response to the crisis.

 

'DANGEROUS BRAVADO'

Scott Kennedy of Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank called Trump's remarks "dangerous bravado."

 

"Avoiding communication is not an effective strategy for solving a crisis that requires global cooperation. And cutting off the economic relationship would badly damage the American economy," he said.

 

Michael Pillsbury, a China analyst who has worked as an outside adviser to Trump, told Reuters he believed the president was concerned that China not only wanted to renegotiate the Phase 1 deal, but also had not been meeting goals in purchasing from United States.

 

He said that according to figures cited by the China Daily, China's purchases of U.S. products in the first four months of this year were 3% less than during the same period last year.

 

"It's not good news for reducing the trade deficit or helping our economy recover from the coronavirus crisis," he said.

 

Under Phase 1 of the trade agreement, Beijing pledged to buy at least $200 billion in additional U.S. goods and services over two years while Washington agreed to roll back tariffs on Chinese goods in stages.

 

China took some additional steps towards those goals on Thursday, buying U.S. soybean oil for the first time in nearly two years and issued customs notices allowing imports of U.S. barley and blueberries.

 

An executive from Chinese state agriculture trading house COFCO said China was set to speed up purchases of U.S. farm goods to implement the Phase 1 deal.

 

The Global Times on Thursday said Beijing was seeking to compartmentalize rising tensions with Washington.

 

"(China) still hopes that economic and trade issues will not be politicized because that is not good for either side," it quoted Li Yong, deputy chairman of the Expert Committee of the China Association of International Trade, as saying.

 

While U.S. intelligence agencies have said the coronavirus does not appear manmade or genetically modified, rejecting a theory promoted by some Trump supporters, Trump said in his interview that China should have stopped it at its source.

 

"Whether it came from the lab or came from the bats, it all came from China, and they should have stopped it," he said.

 

"It got out of control."

 

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom and David Lawder; Editing by Paul Simao, Bernadette Baum and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-15

 

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[tribalfusion001]

Nuke the commie virus spreaders!

[daveAustin]

Quote

"They should have never let this happen," Trump said. "So I make a great trade deal and now I say this doesn't feel the same to me. The ink was barely dry and the plague came over. And it doesn't feel the same to me."

Can understand why he would be p&ssed regards virus, but what he's really upset about is not looking good because of the deal.

But, yes, nuke em just in case. 

[ezzra]

Is Beijing lying through their back teeth in its COVID-19 reporting? absolutely, Is China a free thinking country a true member of the world's nations? not by by any starch of imaginations, will China do it's out most to hide and conceal true figures what the epidemic to benefit itself and itself only? the reply would be unequivocally yes...

[Relocated]

Just order to pull out all the American factory and see how he responds.  

[scorecard]

Yep and the good old USA should have stopped the several US giant corporations selling clothing, shoes and other products made by children. They didn't.

[RoadWarrior371]

13 minutes ago, Retarded said:

Just order to pull out all the American factory and see how he responds.  

Already happening, nobody needs to tell us.  Easier to move factories that most can change Tiraks.

[Tug]

Spot on scorecard and let’s not forget pandering to his base!

[OneMoreFarang]

I am sure Xi is hoping that one day there will be an adult POTUS. What's the point of talking to a baby?

[OneMoreFarang]

45 minutes ago, Retarded said:

Just order to pull out all the American factory and see how he responds.  

Great idea. And see how Americans will respond to the prices for "Made in America".

[Boon Mee]

It's just pathetic to see the numbers of posters who hate Trump to the point they support the Commie Xi. 

Remember who initialized this Wuhan Flu <deleted>, eh? 

 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Nuke the commie virus spreaders!

And nuke the Americans (and others) who use cheap labour to manufacture high profile clothing, shoe etc., brands. Any names come to mind?

[DoctorG]

54 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am sure Xi is hoping that one day there will be an adult POTUS. What's the point of talking to a baby?

Amazed that some people think Xi is a "good guy".

[J Town]

4 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

It's just pathetic to see the numbers of posters who hate Trump to the point they support the Commie Xi. 

Remember who initialized this Wuhan Flu <deleted>, eh? 

 

That's a nonsensical argument, it's not binary.

[stevenl]

11 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Amazed that some people think Xi is a "good guy".

Amazed that some posters don't see the difference between criticising Trump and supporting Xi.

[PatOngo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"But I just – right now I don't want to speak to him,"

"He's just - well, so much smarter than me!"

 

 

[mrfill]

About time Trump banned the sale of Chinese made iphones, computer motherboards, memory and components.

[RoadWarrior371]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Great idea. And see how Americans will respond to the prices for "Made in America".

Able to move factories anywhere in the world, in a heartbeat.  USA is not hobbled like other declining ex-empires.

Edited May 15, 2020 by RoadWarrior371

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

Able to move factories anywhere in the world, in a heartbeat.  USA is not hobbled like other declining ex-empires.

What makes you say that?

[Ventenio]

soon people will have to choose.  CCP or America.  WOW WOW I hope all the anti-Trump people are forced to China.  Then, after they come crying to America, we will see these posts........America entry REJECTED

 

 

[RJRS1301]

One would think instead of going into a sulking fit, he would actually be engaging in some dialogue. Perhaps he does not want to be reminded of his abysmal response and the number of infections, let alone deaths his own poor response has contributed to

 

[TopDeadSenter]

33 minutes ago, mrfill said:

About time Trump banned the sale of Chinese made iphones, computer motherboards, memory and components.

Default on any debts due to China. Confiscate any Chinese owned assets and bank accounts in the US. Deport all Chinese nationals back home. Ban all trade and travel between US/China. Then maybe, just maybe, start to talk with the Chinese communist regime about deals.

 Of course it could have been easier. Had China not lied and covered up the initial outbreak. Had the WHO and western media not been so doughy eyed and loved up with the communist regime that tough questions were asked and investigative journalism was carried out properly. But no, just a love fest for all things socialist, and China certainly ticks that box.

 I wonder how many of the China cheerleaders have actually lived for a real amount of time in one of these nations? I guess none.

 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

It's just pathetic to see the numbers of posters who hate Trump to the point they support the Commie Xi. 

Remember who initialized this Wuhan Flu <deleted>, eh? 

 

Trump supporters are really not capable of thinking straight.

 

Disliking Trump does not mean Liking Xi. I would still support the US over China but margins are small with an mental midget like Trump in power. 

[robblok]

8 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Default on any debts due to China. Confiscate any Chinese owned assets and bank accounts in the US. Deport all Chinese nationals back home. Ban all trade and travel between US/China. Then maybe, just maybe, start to talk with the Chinese communist regime about deals.

 Of course it could have been easier. Had China not lied and covered up the initial outbreak. Had the WHO and western media not been so doughy eyed and loved up with the communist regime that tough questions were asked and investigative journalism was carried out properly. But no, just a love fest for all things socialist, and China certainly ticks that box.

 I wonder how many of the China cheerleaders have actually lived for a real amount of time in one of these nations? I guess none.

 

It would have been a lot easier if the president was not a habitual liar and if the US had proven to be more truthful in the past (chemical weapons anyone). The US has messed things up so badly in recent memory that it lost trust of people like me who before would trust the US and now see them as just slightly better then China. 

 

 

[Tug]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

It's just pathetic to see the numbers of posters who hate Trump to the point they support the Commie Xi. 

Remember who initialized this Wuhan Flu <deleted>, eh? 

 

And just how pray tell did xi initialize this virus?keep in mind the Chinese have nukes as well because what you are claiming is a total act of war kinda like 911 every day ehh?this isent about (hate) it’s about competence and leadership 2 qualities trump doesent have it’s just another ploy to divide America and pander to his base

[Somtamnication]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

Amazed that some people think Xi is a "good guy".

They both deserve each other. Americans do not deserve this president and the Chinese have no choice but to accept theirs. November can't come fast enough!

[BritManToo]

Just now, Somtamnication said:

November can't come fast enough!

I predict he'll be re-elected by a landslide victory.

[Mama Noodle]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am sure Xi is hoping that one day there will be an adult POTUS. What's the point of talking to a baby?

 

Yeah Im positive Communist Xi is hoping for old Joe Biden.

[Susco]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

3 hours ago, Retarded said:

Just order to pull out all the American factory and see how he responds.  

Great idea. And see how Americans will respond to the prices for "Made in America".

 

The biggest of those, a phone company that is seen as an icon in the US, could easily have their manufacturing cost tripled, and still make an exorbitant profit at the rip off prices they charge their naive fan base.

[Mama Noodle]

The China threads are always good for a chuckle. You have the Trump haters hating Trump and back slapping each other over it, and when you point out that they are doing it under a Communist flag, they backtrack, get indignant, and say they have problems with China too - Yet oddly enough they never talk about them. Just Trump. 

 

Every western nation needs to start taking their supply chains and national security alot more seriously.