China’s state-run Global Times newspaper claimed in a piece Wednesday that Washington’s decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal, “will tarnish the reputation of the superpower” and said America is an “unpredictable superpower” that “looks increasingly likely to do something silly.”
“What can Washington gain from dumping the deal and reimposing sanctions on Iran? The alleged gains are overwhelmed by losses,” the Global Times suggested. The publication also referred to Trump’s decision to start a “trade war” with China over his intention to foster and create more American jobs and push the U.S. market away from its decades-long tendency to outsource U.S. jobs.
China has a large stake in Iran. A Beijing entrepreneur said in an interview with the New York Times last year that, for China’s global ambitions, “Iran is at the center of everything.” Therefore, China’s opposition to Washington’s withdrawal from the deal was expected – and so was Trump’s withdrawal, which he has promised to do since he announced his candidacy.
“All European signatories opposed Washington’s withdrawal,” wrote the Global Times. “The Iran nuclear deal was a hard-won achievement following two years’ negotiations. The White House may have considered withdrawing from the deal after taking into account US domestic politics. Trump himself has no good feelings for Iran and as a result, made the decision without respect for the consequences.”
The Global Times then suggested that Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal would dampen President Donald Trump’s efforts to foster peace on the Korean Peninsula, writing, “The withdrawal was welcomed by some Middle Eastern countries hostile to Iran, but will for sure have an impact on North Korea. Seeing the international pact so easily overturned by the new U.S. government, Pyongyang will be less confident about a potential nuclear deal with Washington.”
North Korea has told the White House that the country is open to discussing shutting down their illegal nuclear weapons program.
Trump announced on Twitter on Thursday that “the highly anticipated meeting between Kim Jong Un and myself will take place in Singapore on June 12th. We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!”
The highly anticipated meeting between Kim Jong Un and myself will take place in Singapore on June 12th. We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2018
Adelle Nazarian is a politics and national security reporter for Breitbart News. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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