Trump offers to lift sanctions if Russia is 'helpful'

(Baonghean.vn) - US President-elect Donald Trump stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he will maintain sanctions against Russia “at least for a period of time”.

US President-elect Donald Trump waves to supporters as he arrives at the Trump Tower lobby in New York on January 13. Photo: Reuters.

He also said he would not commit to the “one China” policy until he saw progress on Beijing’s currency and trade practices.

In excerpts from an hour-long interview published in the WSJ on January 13, Trump stated: “If people are friendly and if Russia is really helping us, why would you put sanctions on someone who is really doing great things?”

The WSJ reported that Trump said he might lift sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in late December in response to cyberattacks blamed on Moscow — if Moscow proves useful in fighting terrorists and achieving other goals important to Washington.

Trump told the newspaper that he was ready to meet President Vladimir Putin after he was sworn in on January 20.

“I understand that they want to see me, and that's perfectly fine with me,” he asserted.

Asked if he supported the “one China” policy toward Taiwan that has been the foundation of US-China relations for decades, Trump said: “Everything is under negotiation, including the one China policy.”

Trump angered China by accepting a congratulatory call on his election victory from Taiwan's leader, and questioning the "one China" policy.

The US has acknowledged China's position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

Trump has previously said he would label China a currency manipulator upon taking office. In an interview, he said he would not make such a move on his first day in office. “I’ll talk to them first,” he said.

“They are definitely manipulators,” he added. “But I don’t expect them to do that.”

However, Mr. Trump also expressed his displeasure with China's currency practices, saying, "Instead of saying, 'We're devaluing our currency,' they say, 'Oh, our currency is falling.' It's not falling, they're doing it on purpose," according to the WSJ.

The newspaper also quoted Mr. Trump: “Our companies can’t compete with them right now because our currency is strong and it’s killing us.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to this information.

Thu Giang

(According to Reuters)