Per TPM & BBC: China Announced US-RoK Joint Training Cessation PRIOR To Trump's Statement.

[TheBlackAdder]

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I saw this little blurb on Talking Points Memo, and it looks like it might deserve more scrutiny:


Very Curious by Josh Marshall

The BBC correspondent in Beijing and the BBC Bureau Chief for North America say that China (specifically, the government spokesman in a daily briefing) announced that the US had agreed to suspend military exercises with South Korea before President Trump announced it in his press conference. In other words, they knew in advance.

Based on only the latter’s account I wasn’t certain whether the timing was right – timezone differences and whatever other possible confusions. But Stephen McDonell’s account from Beijing seems pretty open and shut. It’s still possible there’s some misunderstanding here. But it seems unlikely. What’s going on here?

The most logical explanation is that Trump made this commitment to Kim during their discussions and the North Koreans communicated that to their Chinese counterparts in real time. Another possibility is that this was all agreed in advance. But initial reports at least say the South Koreans were caught off guard by Trump’s announcement. So that seems unlikely.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/very-curious



Here are the tweets from the BBC folks above:

BBC correspondent in Beijing

Stephen McDonell
?Verified account @StephenMcDonell

Stephen McDonell Retweeted Stephen McDonell

When I was sitting in the press conf & heard "Our suspension for suspension process is right and has been realised" I thought what? It was only after PresTrump later announced a war games suspension that I pieced it together: #China knew! Wonder why Beijing revealed knowledge?

I've just realised #China must have been informed that #USA and #SouthKorea were going to halt joint military drills! The Foreign Ministry spokesperson (before President Trump's press conference) said: "Our suspension for suspension process is right and has been realised"! #DPRK

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

BBC Bureau Chief for North America

Paul Danahar
?Verified account @pdanahar

Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Trump would suspend US war games with South Korea before Trump announced it himself at the press briefing. That suggests Kim’s people were on the phone to Beijing straight after the meeting cos they recognized how big a concession it was.

Link to tweet

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[Docreed2003]

1. He's a fucking TRAITOR...selling out our allies for his own personal gain

[scarletwoman]

2. This needs a kick.

Not a surprise. All Trump really wants is his ego stroked, it doesn't matter how much he gives away in order to get what he craves.

So, of course he would have promised an end to the joint military exercises with South Korea ahead of time, in order to make sure Kim Jong Un would show up for the "summit".