Update | ‘We have the power over China’, says Trump in presidential-style address accusing Beijing of ‘economic assault’ against US
Republican front-runner says China has lost respect for America
Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump vowed on Wednesday to use the economic might of the United States to push China to do more on reining in North Korea and accused Beijing of an economic assault against Americans by spying and stealing secrets from the US government and its companies.
He laid the blame for China’s attitude on US President Barack Obama’s administration and his likely rival in presidential elections in November, Hillary Clinton, who used to be the Secretary of State under Obama, calling their policies a “complete disaster.”
“We have the leverage, we have the power over China – economic power and people don’t understand it,” Trump said in a speech on foreign policy before conservative security experts in Washington.
“Our president has allowed China to continue its economic assault on American jobs and wealth, refusing to enforce trade deals and apply leverage on China necessary to rein in North Korea,” the real-estate magnate said, adding Pyongyang has been increasing its aggression under Obama’s watch.
“He has allowed China to steal government secrets with cyber-attacks and engage in industrial espionage against the United States and its companies.”
Relations between the two major powers have see-sawed through the years.