Posted on 05/07/2017 7:58:48 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
China urged U.S. to fire Pacific Command chief Harris in return for pressure on North Korea
BEIJING China urged the United States to sack the head of the U.S. Pacific Command in return for exerting more pressure on North Korea amid concerns over its growing nuclear and missile threats, a source close to U.S.-China ties said Saturday.
The Chinese leadership headed by President Xi Jinping made the request, through its ambassador in the United States, to dismiss Adm. Harry Harris, known as a hard-liner on China, including with respect to the South China Sea issue, the source said.
Chinas envoy to the United States, Cui Tiankai, conveyed the request to the U.S. side, to coincide with the first face-to-face, two-day meeting between President Donald Trump and Xi in Florida from April 6, but the Trump administration likely rejected it, the source said.
China is a longtime economic and diplomatic benefactor of North Korea.
As the head of Pacific Command, Harris, who was born in Japan and raised in the United States, plays a vital role in the security of the region.
He was responsible in ordering last month the dispatch of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to waters near off the Korean Peninsula in a show of force amid signs the North was preparing to test-fire another ballistic missile or conduct a sixth nuclear test.
The Trump administration has called for exerting maximum pressure on North Korea to prod it to give up its nuclear and missile programs. The administration has said all options including a military strikes remain on the table.
Harris has pushed for the U.S. deployment of the advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to South Korea. China has opposed the deployment, saying it could undermine its security interests and the strategic balance of the region.
He has also called for continuing U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the contested South China Sea. Overlapping territorial claims, as well as land construction and militarization of outposts in disputed areas in the sea, remain a source of tension in the region.
According to the source, Cui also asked the Trump administration not to label China as a currency manipulator. As per the request, the United States did not label China as such, in light of Beijings role in helping Washington deal with the North Korean issue.
Adm Harris is one of the few upper level officers left I’ve heard with a set of balls. The rest are Obama’s social justice warriors
Possibly..but do you think Kim won’t do that anyway once he has nuclear? He’s never once stopped his program even when negotiations were going on....he never will.
Keep in mind he’s already attacked S. Korea twice. And other than outcry there were no consequences except for sanctions. Which mean diddly as in the 90’s people were starving...Kim’s worse than his father so he’ll let the people go down before he’ll ever step down willingly.
Therefore you know what is going to happen.
South Korea might possibly get attacked no matter what happens. Ordinarily, I would say that might not happen, but with fat boy, no one really knows for sure. I wonder how long does that dip wad get, to threaten the world with nuclear destruction, before someone blows his brains out? Even then, does that guarantee the next dip wad will be any different? We don't know.
The S. Korean election is just two or three days away and that’s what’s holding things up now.....it will be interesting to see how that flies .....
To which they will reciprocate ...
Nice dam you have there China. Would be a shame if anything happened to it.
Staunch looking character furthest left appears to be the favored. He prefers dialogue with N.Korea. His history regarding the USA though isn't exactly favorable as He wants to take the lead on whatever is determined regarding the North.....
The man on the left side is a conservative with furious last spurt. He has probably closed a gap considerably by now, but it is not clear if that would be enough. He certainly has had momentum on his side, but there was not enough time. S. Korean election has always had last minute dramatic episodes which could shake up the course of events. Sometime it upends the trend and creates a dramatic upset. Not sure what will happen this time around. Whoever wins, it won't be the end of story. There are many people who see the guy on the right side in the photo poses the existential danger to the country.
I agree it’s going to be interesting....and thank you for explaining some of their dynamics in their elections. I suspect Kim and all nations involved are holding back just to see who they are going to be dealing with now.
DPRK News is saying:
..." French Nazis Le Penn suffered defeat
in presidential election, thanks to timely
intervention by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un"......
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