트럼프 "중국과 모든 관계 끊을수도"…미 상장 중국기업도 겨냥
And now to some strong comments from U.S. President Donald Trump.
He's warning the U.S. might "cut off its whole relationship" with China as the two superpowers continue to raise the stakes in their verbal rhetoric tit-for-tat, especially over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee Seung-jae with more.
In the latest escalation with China,... President Trump is warning he could "cut off the whole relationship" with Beijing,... adding there are "many things" Washington could do.
Speaking on Fox Business' 'Mornings with Maria' on Thursday,... President Trump said slashing ties with China would save the United States 500 billion dollars.
While he did not explain what he meant by cutting ties with China,... some White House officials are urging him to remove Chinese companies from U.S. supply chains.
The latest remark is in line with his intensified criticism of the Chinese government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has also previously suggested that Beijing should be forced to pay a price for covering up the outbreak in the early stages.
President Trump also responded to the World Trade Organization chief's abrupt resignation on Thursday,... calling the organization "horrible",... adding that the WTO has been treating China as a developing nation,... hence giving them benefits the U.S. doesn't get.
Meanwhile, during an interview with Israeli broadcaster KAN on Thursday,... U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Israel to stop Chinese investments and partnerships.
Pompeo warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials,... that there's growing Chinese influence in the country,... which Pompeo said puts "Israeli citizens at risk".
China has been developing a number of Israeli infrastructure projects,... including water, ports, and transport,... as part of its Belt and Road Initiative,... which extends to over 70 nations in Asia, Africa and Europe.
The U.S. State Department also released a statement on Thursday,... which denounced China's attempts to infiltrate systems involved in U.S. COVID-19 research.
This comes as the FBI stated that the bureau is investigating "the targeting and compromise" of organizations conducting research to develop vaccines and other treatments for the virus.
If true,... it would not be the first time China has attempted to steal medical information.
Cybersecurity firm FireEye previously stated there were "concerted focus" by Chinese state-supported actors to access U.S. cancer-related research.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
