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US President Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in Nov. 2017. (AFP/Yonhap News)

China fired back at US President Donald Trump’s “irresponsible” remarks blaming Beijing for his cancellation of a scheduled North Korea visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

In a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Minister website on Aug. 25, spokesperson Lu Kang said the US president’s remarks were made “in total disregard of basic facts.”

“We are gravely concerned about this irresponsible act and has lodged stern representatives [sic] with the US side,” Lu said.

“The key for all relevant parties at this moment is to stick to the direction of seeking a political settlement, actively engage in contacts and talks, accommodate each other's legitimate concerns, and demonstrate more sincerity and flexibility, rather than flip-flopping and shifting blames to others,” the statement continued.

The front page of the Aug. 27 edition of the People’s Daily Overseas Edition criticizing Trump’s “irresponsible” remarks

Beijing has reported gone to work attempting to determine the true intentions of Trump’s remarks and the behind-the-scenes progressions. In his remarks, Trump claimed that China had diminished its assistance to the US regarding the North Korean nuclear issue once the US adopted a hard line on trade. He also said efforts to arrange another North Korea visit by Pompeo would only be resumed once trade issues with China are resolved – effectively coupling the trade and nuclear issues together and sending the ball over to Beijing’s court.

Some observers interpreted Trump’s remarks as blaming China for “holes” in its sanctions against the North. But many others argue that apart from some cases involving smuggling, Chinese authorities have been rigorous about enforcing sanctions. At the same time, it is true that China has recently been hoping for a loosening of sanctions as the political situation shifts on the Korean Peninsula – an expectation mirrored by a spike in real estate prices in the cities of Dandong and Hunchun on the North Korean border in Liaoning Province since a North Korea-China summit in March. A substantial increase has also been reported in individual travel to and from North Korea.

Many are now watching to see how Washington’s attitude affects the possibility of a North Korea visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. News outlets in Singapore and Japan have recently reported that Xi is planning a visit on Sept. 9 to attend an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the North Korean government’s foundation. With the US increasingly overt in its aims of reining China in, some observers are suggesting Xi’s visit is less likely to happen due to the potential burden of appearing “too friendly” with the North at a time when no progress is being made in relations between Pyongyang and Washington. But one expert suggested it would be “stranger [for Xi] to decide now that he’s not going if it had already been decided that he would go.” Chinese authorities have not made any statements on whether Xi still intends to visit.

By Kim Oi-hyun, Beijing correspondent

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]