New York billionaire unveils foreign policy, takes aim at difficulties in US ties with China
RENE.PASTOR@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Thursday, 28 April, 2016, 4:36am
Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. Photo: Reuters
Republican presidential front-runner 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.
“We have the leverage, we have the power over China -- economic power and people don’t understand it”
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER DONALD TRUMP
Beijing and Washington provided the biggest impetus for reaching a climate deal that was signed by 175 states at the United Nations in New York to rein in climate change and global warming.
But the two have also been at odds in the South China Sea where the United States is challenging claims by China over nearly the entire area.
Trump said a major part of the fragile and at time fractious relations the US has with China is due to the fact that Beijing shows no respect for the United States.
“China respects strength and by letting them take advantage of us economically which they are doing like never before, we have lost all their respect,” the billionaire said in remarks read from a teleprompter. “A strong and smart America is a an America that will find a better friend in China. “
The perceived weakness of the US is one reason for issues like the South China Sea.
“Look at what China is doing in the South China Sea. They’re not supposed to be doing it,” he said.
China is locked in a dispute with countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, a US ally, over parts of the potentially oil-rich region and a major trade route for Asia-Pacific trade.
Donald Trump, president and chief executive of Trump Organization Inc. and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, speaks during an address on foreign policy at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. Photo: Bloomberg
Trump spoke the day after he swept to victory in five US Northeastern states that moved him closer to capturing the Republican Party presidential nomination for the November 8 election.
Trump, who was also critical of policies of the last Republican US president, George W. Bush, said he would use America’s strength sparingly.
He said he would build up the US military to keep pace with Chinese and Russian military programmes but would use American armed forces only when absolutely necessary.
“I will not hesitate to deploy military force when there is no alternative. But if America fights, it must fight to win. I will never send our finest into battle unless necessary - and will only do so if we have a plan for victory,” Trump said.
He was stern in charging that American allies have benefited from a US defence umbrella but have not paid their fair share.
“The countries we defend must pay for the cost of this defense. If not, the US must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. We have no choice,” Trump said.
Trump is a reality TV star who has never held elected office and has built support from his image as an outsider to the Washington political establishment, making him wildly popular in Republican party primaries being held to choose its candidate for president.
With additional reporting from Reuters
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1939418/trump-says-will-wield-us-power-tame-china-accuses-beijing-economic
