China on Possible US Sanctions: Beijing Didn't Trigger North Korea Problem

All concerned parties have to join efforts to alleviate the Korean Peninsula crisis as China alone is not responsible for aggravating the conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik, commenting on reports of the US working on a set of trade restrictions against Beijing allegedly turning a blind eye to Pyongyang amassing military force.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — On Monday, Politico reported citing sources in the White House that Washington is secretly preparing a set of anti-China trade measures partially over Beijing's alleged reluctance to put severe pressure on North Korea. US President Donald Trump's administration is also reportedly investigating China's alleged violations of US intellectual property, something which can also hinder China-US commercial relations.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea problem was not triggered by China, and the present issues have to be resolved conjointly by all the parties involved, and all of them have to understand it," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

The statement added that China has consistently advocated for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula for many years. Beijing has done everything possible to secure peace and stability, as well as attempted to resolve the crisis through talks, and these efforts have been recognized by the international community, the ministry said.

"As for China-US bilateral trade relations, they, in reality, are mutually beneficial. Facts show that securing steady and reliable trade cooperation between China and the United States comply with the interests of both sides," the statement added.

Recently, US President Donald Trump stepped up criticism of China amid numerous Pyongyang's ballistic missile launches claiming that Beijing is to blame for the issue.

On Sunday, two days after the latest DPRK's missile launch, Trump said on his Twitter he was "very disappointed in China" as "they do nothing for us with North Korea," adding that former US leaders had made it possible for Beijing to make "hundreds of billions of dollars in trade."

According to the US Department of Commerce, the total value of exports from and imports to China amounted to $115.6 and $462.6 billion in 2016, respectively.