Reuters: After Trump criticism, China denies selling oil illicitly to North Korea
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China on Friday denied reports it had been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation.
Trump said on Twitter on Thursday that China had been “caught RED HANDED” allowing oil into North Korea and that would prevent “a friendly solution” to the crisis over Pyongyang’s development of nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.
In a subsequent New York Times interview, Trump explicitly tied his administration’s trade policy with China, North Korea’s neighbor and lone major ally, to cooperation in resolving the North Korea standoff.
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WNU Editor: The Chinese defense is that the ships in question have not visited any Chinese Port for a while.
More News On China Denying Any Involvement In Illicit Oil Shipments To North Korea
China Tells Trump 'This is Not How a U.S. President Should Behave' After North Korea Tweet -- Newsweek
China rejects Trump accusation on oil transfer to N. Korea -- AFP
After Trump accusation, China denies illegal oil sales to North Korea -- The Hill
China Denies Involvement in Illicit Oil Shipments to North Korea -- Voice of America
Trump said China was caught 'red handed' selling oil to North Korea. Beijing denies it did anything wrong. -- Washington Post
China slams Trump's 'pointless hype' over claims it is helping North Korea skirt UN sanctions -- NEWS.com.au
How long is "for a while "?
ReplyDeleteI know that the maritime law is weird and all and that ships can be used secondhand by other parties, probably the case. Oil dealers have these ships under their control shipping oil from wherever to NK. But china should enforce the sanctions from within their waters.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese may well have a point. Sanctions are very difficult to enforce and are easily beaten. While official Chinese government policy may be to enforce sanctions, individuals will have their own agendas and are hard to control. Furthermore with anti-Americanism running rampant in the world today many consider beating such sanctions to be a moral imperative
ReplyDeleteJust an observation: the chinese are very very determined and efficient at preventing even the smallest Fisher boat from Japan or Vietnam entering contested waters - usually to the effect of prolonged bullying and/or "escorting" by gunships.
ReplyDeleteNow when it comes to north Korea they seem to be much, much worse to follow simple sanctions agreed on and detect massive oil tankers at predictable routes and ports.