Kerry faces tough sell in China on NKorea, tension
Source: Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday appealed for China's help in bringing a belligerent North Korea back to nuclear disarmament talks but faced an uncertain response as the request was accompanied by demands for Beijing to roll back a series of increasingly aggressive steps it has taken to assert itself in territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors.
Kerry opened a 24-hour visit here by meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People and was later to see an array other senior officials as he sought to underscore the Obama administration's commitment to refocusing U.S. foreign policy on the Asia-Pacific amid myriad other global priorities. Kerry planned to address issues ranging from climate change to Syria and Iran with his Chinese hosts.
Yet, he faces a decidedly tough sell on both of his main agenda items: North Korea and regional tensions that have flared, particularly with Japan over conflicting maritime claims.
For one, the extent of China's influence, and willingness to use it, with North Korea is unclear following a purge in the isolated country's leadership.
Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KERRY_CHINA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-02-14-01-15-25
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