An Explanation of Why U. S. – China Relations Are Having Difficulty

And It’s An Obvious One

The NYT is reporting on the troublesome relationship between America and China over trade and North Korea.  For some odd reason the Trumpies believe that they can get China to help with containment of North Korea while at the same time attacking China on its trade policies.

While past presidents have tried at least ostensibly to keep security and economic issues on separate tracks in their dealings with China, Mr. Trump has explicitly linked the two, suggesting he would back off from a trade war against Beijing if it does more to pressure North Korea. “If China helps us, I feel a lot differently toward trade, a lot differently toward trade,” he told reporters on Thursday.

This is insulting to China, particularly when it is done in public.  And things are not going all that well.  China has apparently put forth a reasonable proposal.

Still, the leadership has been vexed that the Trump administration has paid scant attention to China’s proposal for a “freeze for freeze” solution to North Korea. Described many times by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, the notion calls for North Korea to freeze its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program at current levels in exchange for the United States drawing down military exercises off the Korean Peninsula.

Really, does the U. S. need military exercise near Korea to prepare to attack or defend against the poorest military nation in the world?  Looks like a reasonable tradeoff.

So why aren’t things going better?  Oh there is this.

Much of the diplomacy between China and the United States has been conducted between Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the Chinese ambassador in Washington, Cui Tiankai. 

Ah yes, the Boy Wonder coming straight from his appearance on the Original Amateur Hour.