Rex Tillerson and Xi Jinping Meet in China and Emphasize Cooperation
But behind the scenes, diplomats and analysts said there was little doubt
that Mr. Tillerson had pressed China to enforce sanctions against North Korea and raised the possibility that the United States would bolster its missile defense in Asia if China did not rein in Mr. Kim.
Greeting the new secretary of state in an ornate room in the Great Hall of the People, Mr. Xi thanked Mr. Tillerson for a smooth transition to the Trump administration and expressed his appreciation for the sentiment
that "the China-U.S. relationship can only be defined by cooperation and friendship." At least in public, Mr. Tillerson adopted a far different tone than that of his boss, who said in a Twitter post on Friday that China had "done little to help" on North Korea.
Maybe China will take some small steps to shut down a few trading companies,
but not all." China keeps the rudimentary North Korean economy running by supplying almost all its oil, and there is little chance Mr. Xi would consider shutting down the pipeline, even though China abruptly halted imports of North Korea’s coal last month, ending a valuable source of foreign currency for Pyongyang.
China strongly objects to the installation of a missile defense system in South Korea,
and the polite public words from Mr. Tillerson were designed to give China "face," said a diplomat in Beijing who spoke on the condition of anonymity per diplomatic custom.
By JANE PERLEZMARCH 19, 2017
BEIJING — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson and President Xi Jinping of China cast aside their differences on Sunday with a public display
of cooperation, sidestepping areas of disagreement even as North Korea made another defiant statement by showing off a new missile engine.
" Mr. Shi said. that Maybe Xi will broaden the punishment against North Korea somewhat, at the cost of further damaging relations with North Korea,
Hours before the meeting between Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Xi, North Korea stuck its nose under the tent, announcing
that it had tested a new high-thrust missile engine that analysts said could be used in an intercontinental missile.