U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he hopes to get the ownership of the land where U.S. military bases in South Korea during a meeting with visiting South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House.
The two sides discussed issues such as the U.S.-South Korea alliance, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and manufacturing cooperation between the two countries.
Trump expressed his hope that South Korea would transfer the ownership of the land used for U.S. military bases to the United States, rather than continuing the current "lease" arrangement.
However, according to the U.S.-South Korea agreement on the stationing of U.S. forces, South Korea currently not only provides the land for U.S. military bases free of charge but also bears a significant portion of the costs associated with maintaining the troops.
During the talks, Trump expressed his hope to meet with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), later this year and said that together with Lee, he expects to gain major progress in relations with the DPRK.
Regarding economic ties between the U.S. and South Korea, Trump mentioned that he would not rule out "renegotiating" the trade agreement reached between the two countries in July.
Lee emphasized his hope that Trump would pave a "new path to peace" on the Korean Peninsula. He also said that South Korea is willing to participate in the revitalization of manufacturing industries, such as shipbuilding, which the U.S. is currently promoting.
Trump seeks ownership of US military bases' land in South Korea
Trump seeks ownership of US military bases' land in South Korea
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."
Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.
Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.
Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.
Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.
He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.
No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.
The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.
Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.
Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves
